[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1896]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING MELISSA DICESARE AS THE 2012-2013 WALTON COUNTY, FLORIDA 
                          TEACHER OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 27, 2013

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. 
Melissa Dicesare as the 2012-2013 Walton County, Florida Teacher of the 
Year. For more than thirteen years, Ms. Dicesare has been an 
inspiration to her students, her colleagues, and her community, and I 
am honored to recognize her success and myriad achievements.
   After earning a bachelor's degree in Secondary English Education and 
master's degree in Educational Leadership from the University of West 
Florida, Ms. Dicesare joined the Northwest Florida school system as an 
English teacher at Fort Walton Beach High School for three years. Ms. 
Dicesare then joined Niceville Senior High School for eight years and 
eventually South Walton High School, where she currently serves as an 
English teacher and Leadership Sponsor.
   Teachers are among our nation's most valuable public servants. They 
are responsible for helping mentor our students and for ensuring that 
our youth have the proper tools they need to succeed. It is 
unquestionable that Ms. Dicesare values the important influence and 
role teachers play in the lives of their students. To Ms. Dicesare, 
being a teacher is about being a positive force in bettering the lives 
of her students and always inspiring them to strive for excellence. She 
challenges her students to think critically. She emphasizes the 
importance of building a strong character with integrity and resolve, 
and she speaks of the importance of becoming productive members of 
society. Aside from her students, Ms. Dicesare mentors young aspiring 
teachers, and by sharing her wisdom and experience with her fellow 
colleagues, Ms. Dicesare improves the quality of her own classroom, as 
well as the entire school.
   In addition to being named Walton County, Florida Teacher of the 
Year, Ms. Dicesare has previously earned recognition as the Okaloosa 
County, Florida First Year Teacher of the Year; Sallie Mae First Year 
Teacher Award; Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction; United States 
Achievement Academy Leadership Award; Beta Club Helping Hand Award; 
2005 Niceville High School Outstanding Educator Award; and 2000-2008 
Who's Who Among America's Teachers.
   Ms. Dicesare's unbridled compassion and enthusiasm exemplify the 
essential characteristics of a successful teacher. They are evidenced 
by the numerous accolades she has received, and the impact of her 
achievements is alive in the hearts and minds of the students who have 
been deeply affected by her unwavering dedication.
   Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize Melissa Dicesare as the Walton 
County, Florida Teacher of the Year and thank her for her leadership 
and commitment to service to Northwest Florida. My wife Vicki joins me 
in congratulating Ms. Dicesare, and we wish her all the best.

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