[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3844]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE HURLBURT AFA CHAPTER 398 TEACHER OF THE YEAR SELECTIONS 
                             FOR 2007-2008

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 11, 2008

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States 
Congress, it is an honor for me to rise today to recognize the Hurlburt 
Air Force Association Chapter 398 Teachers of the Year.
  First, I would like to congratulate, Mr. Leo F. Murphy, who received 
the High School and Overall Teacher of the Year award. A teacher at 
Choctawhatchee High School, Mr. Murphy is deeply passionate about 
aviation and aerospace education. He began the first aviation and 
aerospace education program in the Okaloosa County School District and 
is the driving force behind its success. A retired U.S. naval officer, 
Mr. Murphy has over 4,000 hours flying time earned in his 30-year 
career. He instructs at both Choctawhatchee and Crestview High Schools, 
and Hurlburt AFA Chapter 398 is proud to recognize him.
  Second, I would like to honor Ms. Shannon E. Farrell, the AFA 
Chapter's selection for the Middle School Teacher of the Year. Ms. 
Farrell teaches eighth-grade Physical Science at Woodlawn Beach Middle 
School. She incorporates engineering, science and technology into her 
classroom. Ms. Farrell also sponsors the school's Boosting Engineering 
Science and Technology, BEST, Robotics Club. The 60 students in her 
club have competed at local and regional events, and are now preparing 
to compete in the Physics Olympics at the University of West Florida.
  It is also with great honor for me to recognize the co-winners of the 
Hurlburt AFA Chapter 398 selections for the Elementary School Teacher 
of the Year. Ms. Megan L. Tucker teaches fourth-grade students at 
Kenwood Elementary School and was named her school's teacher of the 
year for 2006-2007. She augments the discussion of aviation in the 
classroom with guest speakers. Ms. Tucker has teamed with the USAF 
Armament Museum to assist in the development of the ``Engineers for 
America'' initiative, which incorporates science, technology, 
engineering, and mathematics, STEM, into various activities. She has 
also coordinated with the Choctawhatchee Aviation Institute, Bob Skies 
Airport, and the Experimental Aircraft Association to introduce her 
students to the thrill of flight.
  Lastly, it is with honor for me to recognize another outstanding 
teacher, Mr. Scott Erickson. He is a fourth-grade teacher at the W.H. 
Rhodes Elementary School. Since 2005, he has taught math, reading, 
writing, science and social studies. To engage his students in learning 
he has incorporated a variety of aviation related items into all facets 
of his teaching. He integrated items gleaned from a Hurlburt Chapter 
Teacher Workshops to improve reading skills and institute a rocket 
building program for his students. His latest endeavor is integrating 
reading, math, technology, geometry, and engineering procedures into a 
dynamic lesson involving simulated flight from point to point using 
sectional charts, videos, and written instruction. During this lesson, 
students measure angles, figure area of a triangle and circle, compute 
speed, figure averages, record data, and work as a team to achieve a 
final answer. Mr. Erickson is using the science, technology, 
engineering and mathematics aspects of aerospace and aviation to 
motivate his students to learn, explore, and discover.
  Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am proud to 
recognize the Hurlburt Field AFA Chapter 398 Teacher of the Year 
selections.

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