[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9200]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING ANDREA RUCKER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 13, 2013

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
resourceful and ambitious woman, Ms. Andrea Rucker. She has shown what 
can be done through hard work, dedication and a desire to serve others.
  Ms. Rucker is the daughter of Myrtis Rucker of Yazoo City and Otis 
Rucker of Winston-Salem, N. C.
  Ms. Rucker graduated from Yazoo City High School in the class of 2004 
with honors and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Special 
Education from Jackson State University in 2008, graduating Summa Cum 
Laude. After beginning her career as an Inclusion Teacher in the Yazoo 
County School District, Ms. Rucker earned a Master of Education in 
Elementary Education from Mississippi College in 2010, where she also 
graduated Summa Cum Laude.
  Ms. Rucker is a Special Education Teacher at Bentonia Gibbs 
Elementary in the Yazoo County School District. She has taught for four 
years in the district and also served one year in the Plano Independent 
School District in Plano, TX. She recently earned the honor of being 
named Bentonia Gibbs Elementary Teacher of the Year.
  Ms. Rucker is an active member of St. Stephen UMC in Yazoo City where 
she works as a youth leader and communion stewardess. Andrea is also a 
member of the Yazoo City Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta and 
appreciates the opportunity to have a positive impact on the community 
through activities sponsored by the sorority.
  Ms. Rucker's philosophy on teaching can be drawn from Romans 12:6-9 
which speaks of a variety of gifts that may be given to each of us. She 
believes that if one has been given the gift to teach, that person must 
teach well.
  Having had countless examples of top notched, no-nonsense educators, 
including her mother, Ms. Rucker strives every day to teach well while 
remembering this quote from Henri Frederic Amiel which states, ``The 
highest function of the teacher consists not so much in imparting 
knowledge as in stimulating the pupil in its love and pursuit.''
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Ms. Andrea 
Rucker for her dedication to her community.

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