[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 92 (Tuesday, June 5, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S2990]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO KIERA VARGAS

 Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, today I am pleased to recognize 
Kiera Vargas, the Madison County Teacher of the Year from Madison 
County High School in Madison, FL.
  Kiera was honored with this award because of her motivation for 
encouraging and educating her students. As a teacher, she enjoys all 
aspects and feels her success comes from her personal interactions with 
her students. Her students note she listens to their needs and helps in 
every way she can.
  These students feel empowered by Kiera as she encourages them to 
always believe in themselves. She tells them, if they do this while 
working hard and following their heart, they will achieve their dreams. 
Kiera feels her students have taught her more than she has taught them.
  Kiera was offered her first teaching job while planning to take the 
dental admission test. She originally planned to be a dentist but 
realized teaching was her true passion. Kiera says she has never looked 
back since her first teaching job and has no desire to do anything 
except teach and assist her students.
  She previously worked at the college level as a full-time lecturer 
for 7 years, taught in K-12 classrooms for 4 years, and served as an 
adjunct lecturer for several years. Kiera has a bachelor of science 
degree in journalism and mass communication with a concentration in 
public relations, a master of science degree in English education, a 
juris doctor from the Charlotte School of Law, and her masters in 
library science and information sciences from Drexel University.
  I express my appreciation to Kiera for all of the great work she has 
done for her students and extend my best wishes on her continued 
success in the years to come.

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