[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6491]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING MR. NATHAN GIBBS-BOWLING ON HIS MILKEN EDUCATOR AWARD

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                           HON. DEREK KILMER

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 29, 2014

  Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and honor Mr. 
Nathan Gibbs-Bowling, a teacher from my district who has achieved 
recognition for being one of the nation's top educators. Mr. Gibbs-
Bowling of Lincoln High School in Tacoma recently received the highly 
prestigious Milken Educator Award, which is given by the Milken Family 
Foundation to recognize excellence in teaching. Mr. Gibbs-Bowling, 
winner of the $25,000 prize, was the only recipient this year from 
Washington State and one of only 35 educators honored nationwide.
  Mr. Gibbs-Bowling teaches Advanced Placement Government and Advanced 
Placement Human Geography, as well as a senior seminar on applying for 
college and obtaining scholarships. He is an engaging teacher who sets 
high standards for his students while inspiring them with a creative 
classroom experience. He is known to have his classrooms debate Supreme 
Court cases and hold mock Congresses. As his students and colleagues 
will tell you, Mr. Gibbs-Bowling aims to instill intellectual curiosity 
and a mindset of life-long learning in all of his students.
  Mr. Gibbs-Bowling grew up in Tacoma. After graduating from Foss High 
School in 1997, he earned an associate's degree from Pierce College, as 
well as a bachelor's and master's degree from Evergreen State College. 
Now, as a dedicated teacher, he is giving back to his community.
  In addition to helping co-develop the curriculum on Tacoma history 
and the Washington State history curriculum he wrote from primary 
source materials, Mr. Gibbs-Bowling is the first teacher at his school 
to teach Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), a program to 
improve study skills and college-readiness. He is also a founder of 
Teachers United, a network of teachers working with local unions to 
advance education policy.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to congratulate Mr. Gibbs-Bowling for 
winning the esteemed Milken Educator Award, and I would like to express 
how grateful I am to have him as a teacher in Washington State. It is 
an honor to recognize him for the passion and excellence he brings to 
the classroom.

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