[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10895]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING EVERGREEN ACADEMY MIDDLE SCHOOL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANIEL LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 27, 2013

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Evergreen 
Academy Middle School in Chicago, Illinois, for being named to the list 
of top performing middle grades schools in the country by the National 
Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform.
  Evergreen Academy represents one of only 103 middle grades schools 
from around the United States that were recognized as a ``School to 
Watch'' by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform. To 
achieve this honor, Evergreen Academy had to prove that they are 
academically excellent, developmentally responsive, and socially 
equitable. They are among the best schools in the country in those 
regards, and I am glad to see these schools recognized for their 
excellence.
  Achieving such a high level of performance is not easy. Schools must 
establish an educational culture that creates structures, norms, and 
organizational support to sustain their improving trend toward 
excellence. Principal Marian L. Strok has demonstrated a sense of 
purpose that drives her decision making. Further, this performance 
could not be possible without teachers who work tirelessly for their 
students and communities, and administrators who work to provide a 
professional atmosphere to let teachers do what they do best. This hard 
work and dedication has created an exemplary learning atmosphere.
  This achievement is made possible through the hard work and 
dedication by the students, and the loving guidance by their parents 
and guardians. The students' work ethic and the values that their 
parents have instilled within them made this award attainable.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 
outstanding faculty and students at Evergreen Academy Middle School, 
and congratulating them for being recognized as one of the outstanding 
middle grades schools in the country. May they continue to exhibit 
excellence and create one of the best learning environments in the 
country for our future leaders.

                          ____________________