[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 6 (Thursday, January 11, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H58-H59]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    PAYING TRIBUTE TO PAULA TROUTMAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Langworthy) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to pay 
tribute to a remarkable individual whose impact on western New York, 
the southern tier, and our educational system is immeasurable. Paula J. 
Troutman, the beloved principal of Fredonia Middle School, left us 
unexpectedly on New Year's Day at the age of 60.
  I have had the honor to know Paula Troutman and her beautiful family 
since the late 1990s when I was a student at Pine Valley High School. 
Her passing has left a void that is deeply felt by her family, her 
friends, her colleagues, and the thousands of students whose lives she 
touched.
  Paula Troutman was a lifelong educator, a coach, a school 
administrator, and a proud alumnus of Pine Valley Central School who 
went on to teach young people in her hometown. She ultimately went on 
to be the principal of Fredonia Middle School.
  In our small towns in the southern tier, our schools are the 
epicenter of our communities, and Paula Troutman was a community leader 
who touched many, many lives.
  Her ultimate legacy is her beautiful family. Married for 40 years to 
her husband, Dan, they operated a family farm. They have four amazing 
children, Danielle, Kourtney, Justina, and Cody, all of which have 
followed in their mother's footsteps in education or coaching. Paula 
was a loving grandmother to six beautiful grandchildren.
  A shocked community is mourning her sudden passing, expressing their 
love and support for her family, and also reflecting on the leadership 
role she played for many in the community.
  Fredonia Central School District Superintendent Brad Zilliox aptly 
captured Paula's essence, stating: ``It is Paula's impact on fostering 
relationships, a work family, that our staff is leaning on as strength 
to be there for our students and each other.''
  Colleagues and friends have shared heartwarming stories of Paula's 
unwavering support and genuine care. From reassuring a worried mother 
about a school transition to coaching with passion and dedication, 
Paula left an enduring mark on the lives of those around her.
  As we mourn the loss of Paula Troutman, we remember her not only for 
her

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professional accomplishments but for the kindness and understanding 
that made her a cherished figure in the lives of many.
  In one of her very last social media posts, Paula Troutman said her 
new year's resolution for 2024 was to ``Love More.'' I think that is a 
resolution that we could all strive for. In her passing, it is clear 
that she gave her community and those around her a lot of love, and 
those people that she touched truly loved her back.
  Mr. Speaker, my thoughts and prayers go out to Paula's family during 
this very difficult time. May her legacy inspire us to embrace the 
values that she held dear, values of compassion, dedication, and the 
unwavering belief in the transformative power of education.

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