[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 145 (Wednesday, September 18, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5326-H5327]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE LIFE OF MADELYN CONNOR

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Louisiana (Ms. Letlow) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. LETLOW. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Madelyn 
Connor.
  There are very few times in life when you meet a person and leave the 
conversation inspired to do more, but that was Maddie.
  Madam Speaker, she was a dreammaker. She had a vision for her 
community, a dream in her heart, and a drive to see it through to 
completion.
  Earlier this year, I received a request to visit a new charter school 
opening its doors in northeast Louisiana. I knew very little about the 
school named the Academy of Collaborative Education, also known as ACE. 
I only knew that it would serve students from our region who had 
received an autism diagnosis.
  On the day of my visit, Maddie swung open those school doors, and I 
was met with her contagious smile and a huge hug. As she sat me down to 
explain the origin of the school, I noticed that her passion for the 
kids who would benefit from this program shone through the most. It 
came from one of the most genuine and fiercest of places: a mother's 
heart.
  She explained that her son had received an autism diagnosis, and she 
was left with disappointment and frustration when she realized the 
curriculum at her local public school would not suffice for his needs. 
She sat down with his speech pathologist, Joellen Freeman, one day to 
share her concerns, and it was there that a dream and a plan was born: 
to start a charter school aimed at supporting children with autism.
  The journey to start this school was riddled with obstacles and 
heartache, but Maddie never gave up. That was her nature. Nothing was 
going to stop her from giving these kids an opportunity to learn in a 
supportive environment.
  It took 2 years and an arduous 250-page application process, but her 
dream was finally realized with an official ribbon cutting on July 26, 
2024, alongside her cofounder, Joellen.
  This picture of her was taken on that very day the ribbon was cut. 
Her family and friends were there to celebrate and remember her beaming 
with joy on the day that her dream was realized.
  I will never forget when I stood up to leave after our meeting and 
tour of her new school was complete. She stopped me on the way out to 
grab something from her desk. Her eyes flooded with tears as she showed 
me a picture of her son, Ace. She said: This is my why.

  She didn't have to say another word. Our eyes met, and I instantly 
understood. There is nothing more powerful than a mother's love. It has 
the power to change the world.
  In northeast Louisiana, we lost our dreammaker on August 30, 2024. 
Richard, who is with us today in the gallery, lost his loving wife. 
Gracyn, Ace, and Jett lost their precious mother.
  As they navigate this journey through grief, I pray they will find 
some comfort in knowing that they were Maddie's whole world, so much so 
that she left them a legacy.
  The Academy of Collaborative Education has the power to transform a 
region and impact countless lives in our State of Louisiana and beyond. 
It will be there for years to come to help autistic children and 
worried moms and dads because Maddie had a dream in her heart and a 
fierce determination to help her children, and she never gave up.
  Madam Speaker, I leave my colleagues with the words spoken by 
Maddie's husband, Richard, at her funeral. He said: We lost Maddie, but 
only in flesh. Her spirit lives on through her family, friends, and 
each and every one of the people who knew her. We will all be reunited 
with her again one day. How sweet that day will be.
  May we all live each one of our days left inspired by the way Maddie 
lived hers: as a dreammaker.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Moore of Utah). The Chair reminds 
Members not to refer to persons in the gallery.

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