[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 81 (Thursday, May 17, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S2771]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO ES SWIHART

 Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, today I am pleased to honor Es 
Swihart, the Sarasota County Teacher of the Year from Riverview High 
School in Sarasota, FL.
  After Es was presented with the Teacher of the Year award, she was 
asked what inspires her. She stated it was her fellow teachers that 
offer inspiration, through the long hours and their desire to teach 
lessons in new ways, plus the creative veracity with which educators 
make space for students as they learn to navigate the world and allow 
students to value their own voice serves as inspiration.
  Es notes the desire for students to come to class each day while 
shouldering the weight of what they carry, sometimes gracefully and 
sometimes with awkward honesty, inspires her the most. Their optimistic 
view of the world and wanting others to see them for who they truly are 
serve as her motivation as their teacher.
  As an English teacher, Es teaches her students to analyze everything, 
whether it be books or movies that are recent or decades old. She knows 
her students are understanding and experiencing educational growth when 
they realize books from the 1500s through 1600s can still be relevant 
today. Her colleagues note she opens up pathways to language with her 
content and is focused on the learning process for all of her students.
  I am thankful to learn of Es's commitment to teaching. I extend my 
best wishes to her on receiving this important award and look forward 
to hearing of her continued success in her future endeavors.

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