[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12981]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO BLAISE MESSINGER

  Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Madam President, today I wish to recognize Blaise 
Messinger, Connecticut's 2013 Teacher of the Year.
  Every year the Connecticut State Department of Education selects one 
teacher for this prestigious title who then serves as an ambassador for 
education throughout the State and also represents Connecticut on a 
national scale, working on panels and advisory committees with other 
State teachers of the year, as well as with the National State Teacher 
of the Year Program and the U.S. Department of Education. This year's 
Connecticut Teacher of the Year, Blaise Messinger, was selected from 4 
finalists, 15 semifinalists, and over 80 district teachers of the year 
for this tremendous distinction.
  Mr. Messinger makes an extraordinary difference in the lives of his 
students and their families and at his school. He is an inspiration to 
his colleagues. At Woodside Intermediate School in Cromwell, CT, he is 
well known for his commitment to making fifth grade engaging and 
interesting. An actor in Los Angeles and New York City for many years, 
Mr. Messinger dedicates this thespian acumen and ability to his 
students' progress. By making school fun and relevant, his students 
remember what he teaches and come out of his classroom as enthusiastic 
learners. When addressing fellow educators as Connecticut Teacher of 
the Year, he advised his colleagues to ``think back to that teacher you 
can still hear in your head.'' I am grateful that Mr. Messinger came to 
Connecticut to apply his talents, high energy, and positive spirit as a 
community leader.
  One personal inspiration for Mr. Messinger's incredible impact as a 
teacher is his own family--especially his two sons, Ethan and Caleb, 
who live with him and his wife Kimberley in Cromwell. Mr. Messinger has 
said that his love for them--and his witnessing how teachers impacted 
their lives, especially his son Ethan who has autism--drives his desire 
to change the lives of children.
  I thank the Connecticut State Department of Education and the 
National Teacher of the Year Program for representing the voices of 
passionate, talented teachers and recognizing their heroic efforts. Mr. 
Messinger has already done great work on a national level, sparking 
important discussions about changing the way we educate our future 
generations. I am very proud that he represents Connecticut as 2013 
Teacher of the Year and invite my colleagues to join me in applauding 
his invaluable contributions to our country.

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