[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 7765-7766]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



     NATIONAL TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY--RECOGNIZING THE REMARKABLE 
                    ACHIEVEMENTS OF LOCAL EDUCATORS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BRIAN BAIRD

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 11, 2000

  Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, this week we celebrate National Teacher's 
Appreciation Day, and today I personally recognize some of the 
remarkable educators who have had a profound affect on the lives of 
children throughout my district. I have had the opportunity to visit 
over 200 classrooms in my district since my election to Congress, and I 
can tell you the teachers I recognize today are just a small sampling 
of the innovative teaching, academic leadership, energy, and enthusiasm 
I have seen from educators in so many of the schools in my Southwest 
Washington district.
  For educators, teaching at a small, rural, and often underfunded 
school poses particularly difficult challenges. In the case of 5th and 
6th grade teacher Timothy Davis, he has worked tirelessly for sixteen 
years at Mount Pleasant School in Washougal to overcome the obstacles 
faced by the school district. During two years when the school district 
faced financial difficulties and could not afford to keep a full staff, 
Mr. Davis stepped forward to serve in a dual role of teacher, 
principal, and superintendent. Tim Davis never puts in less than 12 
hours a day, devoting his free time to applying for grants and creating 
a challenging curriculum for his students. Mr. Davis is praised by his 
peers for his patience, consideration, and good judgment.
  Students at Centralia High School are truly lucky to have an 
enthusiastic science teacher by the name of Henri Weeks. After 
graduating from Centralia High School, Mr. Weeks returned in 1989 to 
take the job of his former science teacher. Since that time, Henri 
Weeks has worked tirelessly to make science fun and interesting for his 
students. In his spare time, Mr. Weeks has taken part in summer 
internships at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and has 
incorporated DNA testing in the schools science lab projects. His 
students are currently involved in the human genome project (DNA 
mapping) which is being coordinated by the University of Washington. 
Henri Weeks is described by his peers a self-less educator that cares a 
great deal about inspiring his students to achieve greatness.
  At South Bend High School, Mr. Steve Lazelle is credited for being an 
outstanding teacher who is in high demand as a presenter on his unique 
Aquaculture curriculum locally, regionally, and nationally. In 1990, 
the district was chosen as one of six test sites in the nation to pilot 
an aquaculture curriculum provided by the National Council for 
Agricultural Education. Mr. Lazelle is one of the original teaching 
team members to infuse aquaculture into Agricultural education 
beginning in a one-room facility with ten students. Today, thanks to 
Steve's leadership, the program is located at the Port of Willapa 
Harbor's Port Dock facility with Steve as the only instructor and 
manager whose enrollment topped out at 83 students. The program raises 
and sells tilapia fish to the markets of Seattle, and works with the 
local gill-netters association to raise and release salmon into the 
Willapa River. Steve Lazelle is acknowledged by his peers as a man who 
has changed the lives of many of the students who come into contact 
with him.
  Jim Van Fleet, a former skilled millwright who worked for Reynolds 
Aluminum Company in Longview for nearly twenty years, now devotes his 
life to school children. Mr. Van Fleet has been a volunteer coach for 
kids in various levels of softball and basketball for all of his life, 
but recently returned to school and earned a masters in teaching. In 
1997, Jim began his teaching career at Caste Rock Middle School

[[Page 7766]]

where he teaches math and science. Mr. Van Fleet is very popular with 
his students because of his innovative, stimulating lessons. He has 
developed several games that are used as lessons in his classes. Mr. 
Van Fleet is at the forefront in the use of technology for improvement 
of student learning and has been a mentor to other teachers in 
development of technology augmented instruction. Jim is respected by 
staff and parents for his ability, dedication to improvement, and for 
his approachable demeanor.
  Since 1972, George Simonsen has instilled a love of music in hundreds 
of students at all levels in the Kelso School District. Under George's 
direction, The Kelso High School Chamber Orchestra has won three gold 
medals at international music competitions. In addition, George's 
orchestras have performed at numerous competitions and events 
throughout the state and Northwest. Several years ago they performed 
before an audience of 20,000 school board members at a national 
convention in Anaheim, California. In addition to being a gifted 
teacher, Mr. Simonsen is the director of the Southwest Washington 
Symphony--one of the truly fine small symphony orchestras in the 
country. Mr. Simonsen is an important part of the Kelso team, using 
music as a tool to support learning, willingly accepting extra work, 
and bringing enthusiasm to all of the activities in which he 
participates.
  Mary Holmberg masterfully teaches a sixth grade classroom at Meadows 
Elementary School in Lacey. Besides her exceptional work in her own 
classroom with diverse students, Ms. Holmberg has been a key leader in 
implementing new math and science curriculums in the school district. 
Mary devotes numerous hours of her free time to working with math and 
science teachers throughout the school district and to helping lead 
after school programs for students. Mary teaches a double class of math 
students every day in order to help out a visually impaired teacher. 
Additionally, Ms. Holmberg is always available both before and after 
school hours to help students with their work.
  A teacher at Elma Elementary School for seventeen years, Carol Boyer 
believes in relevant, exciting, and fun learning experiences for her 
fifth grade students. A study of astronomy includes a sleep over to 
view the heavens. A study of the Oregon Trail includes the construction 
of a wagon train, formation of families, and a simulation of the life 
along the trail. To bring animal life close to her students, Carol is 
working with a master birder to create an environment that attracts 
species of birds at the school site. She is currently creating a unit 
of study on the Osprey for student research to answer the question, 
``Why are the eggshells of the Osprey becoming thinner and how does it 
affect their survival?'' In the midst of school reforms, Carol teaches 
to the Essential Academic Learning Requirements in a way that is 
engaging, thought provoking, and hands-on.
  Mr. Speaker, I could go on for hours about the remarkable teachers 
who are impacting students throughout my district every day. Today, 
however, I can only highlight a few of the amazing, generous 
individuals who are giving selflessly of themselves to help our 
children succeed. As Teacher Appreciation Day comes to a close, I would 
implore residents in my district and parents throughout America to 
thank their child's teacher for providing the most valuable gift their 
child will ever receive, the gift of knowledge.

                          ____________________