[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 121 (Thursday, July 23, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E733]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE LATE GREGORY ``COACH'' BLATCH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FREDERICA S. WILSON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 23, 2026

  Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, from the 24th District of the 
great state of Florida, I rise today to honor the late Gregory Blatch, 
a dedicated, well respected and beloved teacher with Miami-Dade County 
Public Schools, who was affectionately called ``Coach.''
  Coach Blatch was employed with Miami-Dade County Public Schools for 
34 years. He spent thirty-three of those years teaching at Ojus 
Elementary School, where he was an institution.
  In addition to being an exceptional instructor, Coach Blatch was also 
a mentor, a motivator and a friend to his students, whom he often 
referred to as ``my children away from home.''
  Coach Blatch participated in and sponsored numerous activities which 
included student government, the annual Washington D.C. trip, the 
safety patrol program, Drug Awareness and Resistance Education, and 
student physical fitness. He was staunch advocate for students' health 
and safety.
  Coach Blatch was also heavily involved in the Parent Teacher 
Association at Ojus Elementary. He donated a great deal of his time 
orchestrating and participating in fund raisers from carnivals and 
talent shows to community outreach programs to support the school.
  Coach Blatch was a graduate of Florida A&M University where he 
received his Bachelor of Science degree. He received his Master of 
Science degree from Nova Southeastern University. Coach Blatch was a 
member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and a thirty-four-year 
member of the United Teachers of Dade.
  Please join me in honoring the late Gregory ``Coach'' Blatch for his 
dedication to education, to our children and to our community.

                          ____________________