[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 108 (Wednesday, June 21, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E593]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HIGHLIGHTING TERRI STILLSON'S COMMITMENT TO STUDENTS

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                            HON. MIKE GARCIA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 21, 2023

  Mr. MIKE GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
a dedicated teacher and community member who consistently goes above 
and beyond what is normally expected of educators today. Terri Stillson 
is a reading teacher at Castaic Elementary School whose passion for 
education and inspiration have encouraged her to take a unique and 
creative approach to rewarding academic achievement. The result of 
these efforts is increased motivation for students and teachers alike.
  Every Wednesday, Mrs. Stillson mounts the ``Treat Trike'', a 
decorated tricycle with Castaic Elementary School swag and a cart 
filled to the brim with toys and prizes. She rides around the school's 
campus playing cheerful music and going classroom to classroom to 
reward children for their academic work. But she doesn't just reward 
the top of each class, she utilizes an online program that captures 
students' performance to recognize different types of progress and 
praise students of all different stripes. Mrs. Stillson also motivates 
teachers to do their best by using stuffed plushies to award the 
educator in each grade level who passed the most lessons each week, 
encouraging playful competition among staff.
  Now more than ever, children are struggling to remain engaged in 
their education, as the effects of prolonged lockdowns and Zoom 
learning continue to be felt. It is heartening to see Mrs. Stillson 
lead other educators across the nation by example and offer a roadmap 
for how teachers can make the classroom a fun place to be while also 
driving students' success. All it takes is a little creativity and 
whimsy.
  Once again, I want to recognize and thank Mrs. Stillson for all the 
work that she does to make Castaic Elementary School a shining example 
of educational excellence in our community. Her creativity and hard 
work are a blessing to her students, and we look forward to all she 
will accomplish throughout the rest of her career as a teacher.

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