[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 10752-10753]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO MR. AND MRS. EDGAR AND MAGALI FERNANDEZ: 36 YEARS ENSURING 
                EXCELLENCE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KENDRICK B. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 9, 2006

  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Mr. and Mrs. Edgar 
and Magali Fernandez. For nearly four decades, they

[[Page 10753]]

have been pioneers and leaders in the field of early childhood care and 
education, which is of crucial importance to our society and to every 
parent of young children.
  Their careers have culminated in the establishment of the South 
Florida Association for Child Care Management (SFACCM), a non-profit 
professional organization which was established in 2000. On Saturday, 
June 10, 2006, SFACCM will hold its first summer institute, a one-day 
seminar for those seeking to become early childhood education 
professionals.
  SFACCM, which is an affiliate of the Florida Association for Child 
Care Management, is a professional organization of education providers 
dedicated to ensuring quality in early learning through advocacy, 
education, and accreditation. Mr. and Mrs. Fernandez's leadership of 
SFACCM has served as an inspiration to countless other educators and 
has helped set high standards in early childhood care. Those helped by 
SFACCM's programs number in the thousands.
  Mr. and Mrs. Fernandez have long realized the importance of early 
childhood education as key to success in adulthood; it creates a strong 
foundation for our society and helps families and businesses to thrive. 
Edgar and Magali Fernandez truly value the need for the quality care 
and learning that our children deserve.
  I know that my colleagues join with me in expressing our sincere 
appreciation for the contributions of Mr. and Mrs. Fernandez to our 
community and to our state. Their endeavors to ensure the quality and 
affordability of early childhood care and education are having a huge, 
positive impact on the lives of countless children--our most important 
national resource. Congratulations to them both on 36 years of caring.

                          ____________________