[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 76 (Thursday, May 10, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S2616]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO KERRY ADAMS

 Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, today I recognize Kerry Adams, the 
Wakulla County Teacher of the Year from Shadeville Elementary School in 
Crawfordville, FL.
  Kerry says the most important life lesson she teaches her students is 
that, even though things can be challenging, through struggle and 
desire they can achieve their goals. The growth her students achieve is 
especially notable because she works primarily with students whose 
previous year's test scores indicate they are struggling in math and/or 
reading.
  Kerry recently had a student who entered her class and struggled with 
new math concepts. She worked with this student as a dedicated teacher 
who is committed to their student's success. At the beginning of the 
school year, he would grow frustrated and not want to correct his work. 
He settled for failure or less than his fullest potential. Kerry, 
however, would not settle for anything less than what she knew he could 
achieve.
  Later that year, she gave him an assignment and told him she knew 
this was hard work, but 1 day, he will think back to this moment and 
appreciate her actions. This student left her classroom scoring on 
grade level and ready for success in the future.
  Kerry graduated summa cum laude from Flagler College, earning a 
bachelor's degree in elementary education and holds the English for 
Speakers of Other Languages endorsement. She currently teaches math to 
fifth-grade inclusion classes and has taught all subjects in her 11 
years of working with fifth graders.
  I extend my best wishes to Kerry for her dedication to ensuring her 
students achieve their full potential. I look forward to hearing of her 
continued success in the years to come.

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