[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4951]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING WOMEN IN THE CLASSROOM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 31, 2011

  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, El Paso, Texas has a history of producing 
strong, passionate, and caring educators who motivate and engage our 
children to become lifelong learners. As a parent and grandparent, I am 
grateful for the contributions of our teachers in the El Paso area, and 
today in honor of Women's History Month, I want to take this 
opportunity to honor women who are serving as teachers in El Paso.
  There are so many dedicated and talented women in the schools of the 
16th congressional district of Texas who deserve to be recognized and 
thanked for their commitment to providing the best possible education 
to our children. From Rosa Guerrero, a pioneer in education who was 
awarded a lifelong membership to the Texas Parent Teachers Association 
and was the first Hispanic woman in El Paso to have a school named 
after her, to our more recent Texas Teachers of the Year, we have been 
blessed with many dedicated and talented women in the classroom. Across 
the country, female educators make up 76 percent of the classroom 
workforce and serve as the core of the teaching profession, inspiring 
and supporting our youth. El Paso has been particularly blessed with 
incredible female educators and their work has been recognized year 
after year by the State of Texas and the Texas Teacher of the Year 
program. I am proud to note that El Paso has had ten Texas Teachers of 
the Year and six have been strong and passionate women.
  Today's teachers are working under a tough budget crisis. Yet, in 
such difficult times our teachers continue to work hard every day to 
educate and inspire our children. Education is one of the fundamental 
building blocks of our Nation, and our teachers deserve to be 
acknowledged for all of their hard work and dedication.
  In honor of Women's History Month, I would like to salute all the 
women in our classrooms in the 16th District of Texas, and also enter 
the names of the previous female recipients of the Texas Teacher of the 
Year Award from my congressional district.


          Names of El Paso's Female Texas Teachers of the Year

  Yushica Walker, Texas Teacher of the Year for 2010--Morehead Middle 
School
  Christine Gleason, Texas Teacher of the Year for 2009--Fabens High 
School
  Dana K. Boyd, Texas Teacher of the Year for 2007--Dolphin Terrace 
Elementary School
  Kyann McMillie, Texas Teacher of the Year for 2004--Canutillo 
Elementary School
  Rosa E. Lujan, Texas Teacher of the Year for 1992--Ysleta Elementary 
School
  Rita Harlien, Texas Teacher of the Year for 1982--Eastwood High 
School

                          ____________________