[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4800]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING LAURA PINK AS THE 2012 HURLBURT AFA CHAPTER 398 ELEMENTARY 
                       SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 16, 2012

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and 
congratulate Ms. Laura Pink, the 2012 Hurlburt Air Force Association 
Chapter 398 Elementary School Teacher of the Year.
  Ms. Pink has spent her entire career ``paying it forward'' to her 
students, their parents, and her colleagues. Her dedication to helping 
educate others started long before she stepped into the classroom as a 
teacher. As a junior in high school, Ms. Pink began teaching as a 
reading tutor. She went on to earn a double major in Elementary and 
Special Education in college and received an endorsement in Gifted 
Education for all grades. Ms. Pink attributes her success as an 
educator to her own teachers, who instilled in her the self-confidence 
for success and a passion for scholarship. She has forever impacted the 
lives of her students, and she is truly deserving of this honor.
  In the classroom, Ms. Pink uses the wonders of science, technology, 
engineering, and math to challenge and empower her students. Outside of 
the classroom, she is involved with the Air Force Association, Hurlburt 
Chapter's Teacher Workshop, the American Institute of Aeronautics and 
Astronautics, the Civil Air Patrol, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical 
University. Ms. Pink has been able to combine her classroom activities 
with her extracurricular activities so that she can better serve her 
students and secure grants for hands-on classroom experiments. 
Additionally, Ms. Pink has been able to introduce the Civil Air Patrol 
Aerospace Connections in Education program at her school, which uses 
aviation to foster her students' interest in science and math.
  The importance of teachers such as Ms. Pink is unquantifiable, and I 
commend her dedication to our nation's future. To be selected as 
Teacher of the Year is a reflection of Ms. Pink's exemplary work ethic 
and steadfast dedication to the students of Northwest Florida.
  On behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged to recognize 
Ms. Laura Pink for her great achievements and laudable service. My wife 
Vicki joins me in wishing her all of the best.

                          ____________________