[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24848]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         IN HONOR OF JASON KAMRAS, NATIONAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR

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                          HON. DORIS O. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 2, 2005

  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in tribute to Jason Kamras, the 2005 
National Teacher of the Year. A native of Sacramento, Jason teaches 
mathematics at John Philip Sousa Middle School, here in our Nation's 
capital. Since being named Teacher of the Year in April, Jason has 
traveled across the country as an educational spokesman and will 
continue to do so through next June. As his friends, family and 
colleagues celebrate Jason's outstanding achievement, I ask all of my 
colleagues to join with me in saluting this truly remarkable American.
  The son of Linda and Marvin Kamras of Sacramento, Jason attended 
Shalom School, Sacramento's only Jewish day school, where he was a 
member of their inaugural class of 1978. In 1991, he graduated from Rio 
Americano High School at the top of his class. Later that fall Jason 
began his freshman year at Princeton University, where he graduated 
with a degree in public policy in 1995.
  After graduating from Princeton, Jason promptly applied for a 
position with Teach for America, a wonderful program that allows for 
recent college graduates to work in needy public schools. It was Teach 
for America that first brought Jason to John Philip Sousa Middle School 
in the fall of 1996 where he taught mathematics to sixth graders. At 
Sousa he immediately poured his energy and passion into the school's 
students.
  Three years of teaching math at Sousa convinced Jason that he could 
do much more to have a positive impact on students' lives. In 1999 he 
left the classroom and earned a Master's Degree in Education at the 
Harvard Graduate School of Education. When he returned to Sousa, Jason 
taught a combined class of seventh and eight graders for 2 years in 
social studies. This ``looped'' class allowed him the opportunity to 
truly connect with his students and push them to achieve everything 
within their grasp. In the 2002-2003 school year, Jason has returned to 
teaching math, this time at the seventh and eighth grade levels.
  Outside of the classroom, Jason has successfully worked with school 
administrators to double the instructional time devoted to math and has 
incorporated technology and real world situations into the math 
curriculum, in order to meet today's students' needs. His love for 
photography led him to establish the EXPOSE Program, in which students 
create photo-essays with digital cameras that depict their lives and 
neighborhoods. Those photos are often shown to the public at the 
Capital Children's Museum and other places around Washington. In 2001, 
Jason was awarded the Mayor's Art Award for Outstanding Contribution to 
Arts Education for his work with the EXPOSE Program, just one of the 
many honors he has earned for his dedication to our Nation's youth.
  What makes Jason an excellent teacher and role model is that he works 
tirelessly to give his students the tools they will need to make their 
dreams come true. Whether it is with complex math problems or artistic 
self expression, Jason has an ability to connect with students, many of 
whom come from underprivileged backgrounds, and give them the attention 
and support they need to help them meet their goals.
  Mr. Speaker, as Jason Kamras continues to speak on behalf of school 
teachers across our country, I am honored to pay tribute to one of 
Sacramento's most honorable citizens. His love for teaching is 
fortunately shared by countless other teachers in classrooms throughout 
the Nation. At 31 years of age, Jason has accomplished so much in the 
classroom; accomplishments that allow him to serve as a model for 
others to follow. On behalf of the students at Sousa that have 
benefited from his compassion, dedication and creativity, I ask all of 
my colleagues to join with me in wishing Jason continued success in all 
his future endeavors.

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