[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 138 (Tuesday, August 23, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E870]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RECOGNIZING MR. GARY RICE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DAVID G. VALADAO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 23, 2022

  Mr. VALADAO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Gary Rice and 
congratulate him on his 35-year career as a teacher in Hanford, 
California.
  Mr. Rice began his career teaching first grade at Western Christian 
School in Hanford. After one year, he transferred to Pioneer Union 
Elementary--where he would teach for the next 34 years. As a teacher at 
Pioneer, Mr. Rice taught multiple grade levels, including first, third, 
fourth, and fifth grade.
  Mr. Rice's true passion was teaching fourth grade because he was able 
to educate his students about one of his favorite subjects, the history 
of the State of California. As a fourth-grade teacher, Mr. Rice 
regularly led students on field trips to Sacramento to visit the 
California State Capitol, the city's historic Old Town neighborhood, 
and the California State Train Museum. He also led students on field 
trips to visit the historic California Missions, such as Mission San 
Miguel and Mission San Antonio.
  As a dedicated educator, Mr. Rice was heavily involved in the 
school's extracurricular activities. He regularly organized the Pioneer 
Spelling Bee and was a fixture at the school's ukulele club--both 
teaching students how to play and encouraging them to show off their 
talents at events like the Pioneer talent show.
  Mr. Rice is the type of teacher that students never forget. His sense 
of humor, passion for learning, and dedication to his students have 
made a lasting impact on the thousands of children he has taught over 
his 35-year career.
  I ask all my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives 
to join me in honoring the incredible career of Mr. Gary Rice.

                          ____________________