[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 62 (Monday, April 7, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E289-E290]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING JASMINE BAKER
______
HON. JASON CROW
of colorado
in the house of representatives
Monday, April 7, 2025
Mr. CROW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jasmine Baker,
winner of a 2024 James Madison Fellowship from the James Madison
Memorial Fellowship Foundation. This fellowship is awarded to educators
who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to civic responsibility and
education in the areas of American history, American government, or
civics.
Mrs. Baker began her service in the U.S. Air Force, conducting
signals analysis in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Upon leaving the military, Mrs. Baker continued to serve her
community through education. She went to school using the GI Bill, and
became a social studies teacher with an emphasis on supporting
education in urban communities. As an eighth-grade teacher at Mrachek
Middle School in Aurora, Colorado, she incorporates intensive
discussion and diverse cultural narratives to promote critical
thinking.
A participant in the national We the People research project and a
``Push-In'' facilitator, Mrs. Baker works to make education more
accessible. As a facilitator, she focuses on addressing the challenges
Black youth face in school and on creating more equitable spaces for
young women through professional development programs and student
groups.
As Aurora Public Schools' co-facilitator for social studies programs,
she coordinates with all district middle school teachers to strengthen
education our Aurora youth receive and to help mentor new educators.
And as a coach of the Step Team, she drives her athletes to build
leadership skills, confidence, community, and to pass down cultural and
historical knowledge.
As Colorado's 2024 James Madison Fellow, Mrs. Baker will continue her
own education and complete a master's degree at the University of
Colorado Denver. She hopes to use this opportunity to facilitate even
greater educational advancement for her students and to
[[Page E290]]
build a stronger, more civically adept community.
I thank Mrs. Baker for her service to our community and wish her the
best in her studies as she completes the James Madison Fellowship.
____________________