[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 260-261]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO MS. THELMA STINSON, PRINCIPAL OF LILLIE C. EVANS ELEMENTARY 
                                 SCHOOL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KENDRICK B. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 6, 2005

  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay this tribute to Ms. 
Thelma Stinson, Principal of Lillie C. Evans Elementary School located 
in Miami's Liberty City area of my district. This honor is richly 
deserved, for Ms. Stinson has truly made a huge contribution to our 
community and a huge difference in the lives of hundreds of youngsters.
  Upon the leadership of Ms. Stinson, Lillie C. Evans Elementary School 
proudly rose from an F-graded school in 2001-2002 to an A-graded school 
in 2003-2004. She took the helm of this school in 1999, and through 
personal touch and professional acumen defined by a no-nonsense 
approach, Ms. Stinson was able to put together a marvelous staff and a 
well-motivated support system composed of paraprofessionals, parents 
and community leaders. At the same time, however, I am cognizant of the 
countless hours of meeting and lesson planning that have exacted 
nothing but the noblest of her efforts.
  I want to applaud Ms. Stinson for having proven to us that, 
regardless of background or socio-economic class, every child can learn 
and can succeed, given dedicated teachers, able and supportive 
administrators, and a manageable class-size that affords teachers the 
opportunity to devote more time to diagnose each student's individual 
learning needs and problems and, thereby, enable them to teach each 
child accordingly.
  I believe strongly in solid classroom management . . . if the class 
is not under control, the teacher cannot teach,'' was her honest answer 
when asked recently about her secret of success.

[[Page 261]]

  Above all, however, I am particularly pleased that Ms. Stinson seized 
the challenge of putting an inner-city school in my district in the 
highest ranking of achievement in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, 
the fourth largest school system in the nation. While teaching and 
learning continue within the halls of Lillie C. Evans Elementary School 
under the auspices of its dedicated and highly motivated faculty, Ms. 
Stinson has reached out to the community by ensuring that the parents 
are also schooled in the basic skills of reading, math and the sciences 
through regular sessions at night. Simply put, Ms. Stinson has 
literally bridged the gap between her school and her students' homes, 
making parental involvement an essential part of the teaching and 
learning process.
  In spite of the odds, Ms. Stinson has truly demonstrated to all those 
called upon by public service that excellence and achievement are never 
beyond the reach of those willing to make the sacrifice and dare the 
impossible on behalf of tomorrow's leaders. This recognition truly 
honors her leadership and defines the nobility of her profession as an 
educator. I extend to her my heartfelt gratitude for a job superbly 
done and wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

                          ____________________