[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 16335-16336]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO JENNIFER LAWSON

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, this week the Vermont Department of 
Education announced that Jennifer Lawson of Waltham, VT, has been named 
Vermont's 2011 Teacher of the Year. I am proud to call her selection to 
the Senate's attention, and I offer hearty congratulations to Ms. 
Lawson and thank her for her dedication to the students of Vermont.
  A graduate of the University of Vermont with a bachelor's degree in 
elementary education and a master's degree in education from 
Connecticut

[[Page 16336]]

College, Jennifer Lawson has spent 12 years in the classroom. Prior to 
her current role as a social studies and language arts teacher at 
Vergennes Union High School, she taught as an elementary school teacher 
in Vergennes. Her success as an educator stems from her ability to 
inspire students to challenge themselves and their peers in a positive 
learning environment. She champions her students' individuality and 
encourages them to bring their life experiences into the classroom.
  In Vermont, schools are at the core of our communities. Our kids are 
the seed corn of the future that we want for our state and its people. 
Vermonters understand the importance of giving our children a quality 
education, and they understand that a child's education begins well 
before their first day of school and will continue long after their 
last graduation day. Jennifer Lawson brings this philosophy into 
practice every time she enters the classroom. She recognized quickly 
that educating students involves so much more than just talking about a 
subject.
  Even outside the classroom Jennifer is involved in improving the 
education in her community. She serves on several of her school's 
committees, including the Adequate Yearly Progress Team for Literacy; 
she is a coleader of the Afterschool Program for Reading and Math; and 
she serves as a member on the assessment design and research team. 
Along with her efforts close to home she has been published nationally 
on alternative energy sources for schools and has given a presentation 
on Expeditionary Learning Schools for Outward Bound. I am glad that she 
will expand her role within our State even further this year as she 
consults with other educators throughout Vermont in her role as Teacher 
of the Year.
  As I told Jennifer when I called her this week, Marcelle and I are 
proud of her and the extraordinary work she does on behalf of Vermont 
children. Vermont will be superbly represented in the national 
competition for Teacher of the Year next spring. I congratulate her on 
this honor, and I hope she spends many more years inspiring young 
minds.
  I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record a copy of an 
article in The Burlington Free Press about Ms. Lawson.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                    [From Burlington FreePress.com]

    Vergennes Teacher Is State's Best, Jennifer Lawson Plays To Her 
                          Students' Strengths

                            (By Lynn Monty)

       Teacher Jennifer Lawson looked classy--but cool--dressed in 
     tall green leather boots that matched her mohair vest and 
     nail polish this morning as she guided her class through a 
     lesson called ``echoes.''
       One student said, ``They say I'm spoiled'' as another 
     echoed back, ``I say I'm fortunate.''
       Another said, ``They say I'm a geek,'' as another echoed 
     back, ``I say they don't know me.''
       The students wrote each statement and echo. The exercise is 
     just one of the many tools 38-year-old Lawson, of Waltham, 
     uses to empower her students and is part of the reason she 
     was chosen 2011 Vermont Teacher of the Year.
       Lawson is a middle school language arts and social studies 
     teacher at Vergennes Union High School. As winner of the 
     state award, she will travel across Vermont to work with 
     other teachers and compete for the National Teacher of the 
     Year award. In the spring, she heads to Washington for a 
     reception at the White House. Lawson is a native Vermonter 
     who has worked at VUHS for six years.
       ``It's amazing, humbling and flattering,'' Lawson said. 
     ``It's an award for my students more so than for me because 
     it's the students who get me excited.''
       Lawson said it's important to her to know students 
     individually and to recognize who they are. She said her goal 
     as a teacher is to celebrate her students and broaden their 
     perspective of the world. ``In a lot of ways school is home 
     away from home,'' she said. ``The experiences here should be 
     celebrated and connections should be made with their life 
     experiences outside of school.''
       Lawson taught at Vergennes Union Elementary School prior to 
     taking the position at the high school. She has 12 years of 
     classroom experience and holds a master's of education from 
     Connecticut College and a bachelor's in elementary education 
     from the University of Vermont.
       Lawson's father, Robert Lawson, recently retired from the 
     University of Vermont after 44 years of teaching. He has 
     observed his daughter in the classroom on many occasions.
       ``It's a wonderful recognition,'' he said of the award. 
     ``Jennifer is very fond of this community. She gives from her 
     heart and mind and she teaches her students to problem-solve, 
     to be cooperative, to read and to be friendly. I am just very 
     happy for her today.''
       As students left the soft lighting and comfy couches in 
     Jennifer Lawson's classroom to attend the assembly being held 
     in her honor, eighth-grader Dana Ambrose, 13, praised his 
     teacher. ``She's really great and helps us a lot. Personally 
     I don't read that great, but she has helped me improve. I am 
     thankful for that. She's a great teacher and just loves to 
     help everybody.''
       Vermont Education Board Chairwoman Fayneese Miller said 
     that when the Department of Education chooses a teacher of 
     the year, the goal is to choose someone who has the ability 
     to excite young people, to encourage them to use their 
     imagination and to think about possibilities. ``I think 
     that's what she embodies,'' Miller said. ``She cares about 
     her students and loves learning and encourages learning in 
     her students. She's a highly effective teacher.''
       But it's not only the students that Lawson is teaching. 
     Para-educator Erika Lynch is a newly licensed teacher who has 
     been working alongside Lawson for two years.
       ``Being in rooms with her is really good for me because I 
     can learn from her,'' Lynch said. ``I am picking up things 
     that hopefully I can use one day in my own classroom. Jenn 
     creates a learning community where kids feel safe and take 
     chances, where they are challenged but they are able to meet 
     those challenges. It's because she meets kids at their level. 
     She does a great job of creating an environment that makes it 
     easier for kids to learn.''
       Miller introduced Lawson at the assembly. ``By the round of 
     applause it is obvious Jennifer Lawson is someone who is 
     revered, respected and loved,'' she said.
       As Lawson accepted the crystal apple that Miller handed 
     her, she received a standing ovation from the packed 
     auditorium and said above the din, ``I love my job and I love 
     you guys.''

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