[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3276]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING TAVIA MAREZ AS OKALOOSA COUNTY'S TEACHER OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 6, 2007

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States 
Congress, it is an honor for me to rise today to recognize Tavia Marez 
as Okaloosa County's Teacher of the Year.
  On January 30, 2007, Tavia Marez was announced Teacher of the Year. 
Mrs. Marez joined the school district administration in 1997 with an 
educational background in Genetics and Developmental Biology and as a 
former researcher at Johns Hopkins University. Over the past 10 years, 
Mrs. Marez has proudly served the school district, and Okaloosa County 
is honored to have her as one of their own.
  Tavia Marez currently teaches Advanced Placement (AP) Chemistry at 
Fort Walton Beach High School in Fort Walton Beach, FL. Mrs. Marez is 
aware that if her students are anything like she once was, she must 
make Chemistry enjoyable. To get her students interested, Tavia Marez 
incorporates creative techniques, such as: songs, dances, and mnemonic 
devices.
  At the same time, to ensure that she is giving her students the best 
preparation needed to succeed, Mrs. Marez keeps in constant 
communication with the AP College Board and college chemistry 
professors. Ten weeks prior to the AP Chemistry exam, you can find Mrs. 
Marez on Saturdays offering extra help to her students, who in turn 
mentor elementary school students from Edwins Elementary School. Since 
Mrs. Marez began teaching AP Chemistry, the percentage of students who 
pass the AP exam drastically increased from around 0 percent to 70 and 
the number of students taking the course from 12 to 75.
  To be honored as Teacher of the Year, the proof of greatness lies 
well beyond the title--it lies in the hearts and minds of the students 
who have been deeply affected. While Mrs. Marez humbly credits her 
fellow colleagues with helping her get to where she is today, it is her 
spirit, dedication and passion for teaching, which she has developed 
over the past 10 years that has won her the honor of this distinguished 
award.
  Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am proud to 
recognize Mrs. Marez for her great achievement as Teacher of the Year 
and her continuing commitment to excellence at Fort Walton Beach High 
School and in the Okaloosa County School District.

                          ____________________