[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 5 (Thursday, January 9, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E18]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IOWAN OF THE WEEK--DR. MIKE WELLS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CYNTHIA AXNE

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 9, 2020

  Mrs. AXNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of 
Representatives to join me in recognizing Dr. Mike Wells, 
Superintendent for the Hamburg Community School District for his effort 
to create a unique and engaging learning environment for K-8 students 
in the Hamburg Makerspace Program.
   The Makerspace Program and Farm School serving elementary and middle 
school students in Hamburg, IA has been a major hit with both students 
and community members. Students have the opportunity to experience 
immersive learning environments where they gain hands on experience in 
a number of areas including: embroidery, wood working, culinary arts, 
screen printing, video game design with virtual reality, book making 
and so many other amazing programs each Friday for nine weeks.
   I had the opportunity to see these students at work, building a 
house for a family in their community that was hit by devastating 
flooding in the Spring of 2019. The plan is for a new home to be built 
each year moving forward and sold to a local family at a below market 
rate. Dr. Wells brings an amazing learning opportunity for his students 
and is using it to lift up our community.
   Dr. Wells has created an expectation in Hamburg Community Schools 
where students lead projects and obtain valuable, hands on experience. 
This includes The Farm School, started up in 2016, which is an effort 
to introduce hands on, agricultural education experiences through a 
functioning small farm on school property. This endeavor includes a 
garden, green house, poultry, and livestock. The students supply the 
local food pantry fresh produce and eggs year-round. Dr. Wells has made 
the school the center of the community and is a source of pride and 
learning for all residents of Hamburg, IA.
   It is an honor to commemorate the outstanding achievement of Dr. 
Wells and his staff in the Hamburg Community School District. I have 
great respect and admiration for our educators and am particularly 
thankful for the strong foundation they are giving our kids. As the 
mother of two boys, I know that a quality education is crucial to 
success. I hope the well-rounded training and techniques they found 
successful in the classroom becomes a model for other districts and the 
country as a whole.

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