[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 94 (Thursday, June 7, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3290-S3291]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO STEPHANIE BELLINO

 Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, today I am pleased to recognize 
Stephanie Bellino, the Duval County Teacher of the Year from Garden 
City Elementary School in Jacksonville, FL.
  Stephanie was named Teacher of the Year for successfully pushing a 
growing number of disadvantaged students to achieve grade-level 
performance or better in reading and language arts. She helps students 
by taking scripted lesson plans and adapting them to fit each of their 
individual needs. Stephanie is credited with helping Garden City 
improve from a D to a B school.
  While teachers typically stay at one grade level, Stephanie loops 
with her

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students. Many of her current fifth grade students were also in her 
third grade class. About 16 of these students were a year or two behind 
their grade level but have now caught up, with Stephanie being credited 
for this accomplishment.
  Stephanie has worked at Garden City Elementary School for 3 years and 
was a Teach for America recruit. She taught reading and writing to the 
entire fourth grade and pushed students to a 48 percent passing rate, a 
15 percentage point increase in 1 year.
  I extend my sincere gratitude and appreciation to Stephanie for her 
work and wish her continued success in the years to come.

                          ____________________