[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19456]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING MELISSA COLLINS FOR RECEIVING A PRESIDENTIAL AWARD FOR 
             EXCELLENCE IN MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE TEACHING

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                            HON. STEVE COHEN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 27, 2009

  Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Melissa Collins, 
an elementary school teacher from my district who will be honored by 
President Obama with the Presidential Award for Excellence in 
Mathematics and Science Teaching for her work mentoring students.
  This is an honor awarded to teachers who do an exceptional job at 
mentoring students in the areas of mathematics and science. She is one 
of 100 educators who will receive a $10,000 award from the White House 
on behalf of the National Science Foundation, which she will use a 
portion of to help her continue to teach her students.
  Melissa teaches second grade students at John P. Freeman Optional 
School in my hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. While teaching others, 
this accomplished teacher is also working on improving her own 
education by studying for a doctorate degree at the University of 
Southern Mississippi.
  During a time in this country where math and science teachers are 
scarce, Melissa Collins exhibits the teaching skills necessary to 
inspire our children to learn. Melissa is a leader at the elementary 
school. The school principal sends new teachers to her classroom in 
order to observe her teaching style.
  In 2008, John P. Freeman Optional School was awarded the No Child 
Left Behind Blue Ribbon Award, which recognizes academically superior 
schools across the nation. It is beyond a doubt that Melissa helped 
John P. Freeman School achieve this great honor.
  I want to commend and congratulate Melissa Collins on this great 
achievement.

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