[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 208 (Thursday, December 2, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1306-E1307]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING NANCY PARRA-QUINLAN AS ARIZONA'S 2022 TEACHER OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GREG STANTON

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 2, 2021

  Mr. STANTON. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor and congratulate Mrs. 
Nancy Parra-Quinlan for being named the 2022 Arizona Teacher of the 
Year by the Arizona Educational Foundation. Mrs. Parra-Quinlan, a 7th 
and 8th grade teacher at Kino Junior High in the Mesa Public Schools 
district, has inspired her students over her 27-year career to reach 
for the stars and create a better and brighter future for our state.
  School year after school year, Mrs. Parra-Quinlan has distinguished 
herself as a uniquely gifted and hardworking educator. She has 
revolutionized STEM education in the Mesa Public School District and 
has selflessly served our community both inside and outside of the 
classroom. Her lessons expose her students to valuable real-world 
skills in a rapidly evolving technology industry throughout Arizona. 
Mrs. Parra-Quinlan has sponsored and directed incredible programs like 
the STEM Institute for Manufacturing and Innovation, and Mesa Public 
School's Aerospace Academy. Through it all, she finds time to volunteer 
with the Civil Air Patrol as a statewide Assistant Director of 
Aerospace Education and with the 305th Squadron at Falcon Field in Mesa 
as the Aerospace Education Office.
  Mrs. Parra-Quinlan is an exemplary advocate for girls, students of 
color, and all students who are underrepresented in STEM, and is 
helping create a more diverse and equitable future for Arizona. By 
innovating and expanding the kinds of courses and activities offered at 
Mesa Public Schools, she opens new

[[Page E1307]]

doors of opportunity for her students every day--even before they begin 
high school. She plans to spend a year of service as an Arizona Teacher 
of the Year continuing her mission of getting more of our students 
involved in STEM and making the field more inclusive and representative 
of our ever diverse and vibrant community.
  I am beyond proud to honor Mrs. Parra-Quinlan for her remarkable 
service and astounding legacy at Kino Junior High School. Mrs. Parra-
Quinlan cares deeply about her work, students, coworkers, and our 
state. She chose to become a teacher to inspire the next generation and 
change the lives of her students--and we are all grateful for her work 
as a teacher, role model, and mentor. I wish her and her students the 
very best as she continues to innovate, inspire, and shape a promising 
future for the STEM field, and the state of Arizona.

                          ____________________