[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11809]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING JACQUE JOHANNES

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 10, 2014

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. 
Jacque Johannes who is retiring after 27 years as a Department of 
Defense civilian with the United States Air Force.
  She received an Associate of Arts in Education from Cloud County 
Community College in Concordia, Kansas, in 1975 and her Bachelor of 
Science degree in Elementary Education from Emporia State University, 
Emporia, Kansas in 1977.
  That same year, she married Don Johannes and began traveling the 
world and working for the DoD as the spouse of an active duty Air Force 
member. For her first jobs she worked as a substitute teacher in the 
Denver Public Schools system and then as a cashier for the base 
commissary.
  In 1979, she moved with her husband to Hellenikon Athens, Greece and 
worked as a substitute teacher for the DoD schools and eventually as a 
clerk for the Hellenikon AFB Child Development Center.
  In 1982, she moved again with her spouse to Grand Forks AFB in North 
Dakota where Jacque worked for the base commissary as a cashier. In 
1984, she and her family moved to Little Rock, Arkansas and this is 
where she found her most rewarding career working with young children.
  In 1988, she began teaching preschool for the evening classes at the 
Little Rock AFB Child Development Center. The next year, she became a 
full time preschool teacher and taught three and four year olds in the 
Air Force Preschool. In 1997, she became the first USDA/Resource & 
Referral for the Family Child Care (FCC) Program.
  In 2000, Jacque was hired as the junior FCC Coordinator and during 
this time helped to win the provider of the year for 2004. In 2005, she 
took over the lead coordinator's position and with the help of her 
fellow Coordinator, Jill Lund, she was able to train and establish the 
first three National Family Child Care (NAFCC) Accredited FCC providers 
at Little Rock AFB.
  During her years as coordinator, Jacque's program was selected to be 
a test base for the Mildly Ill Program and the new AF Expanded Child 
Care Programs.
  In 2007, with the hard work and dedication of Jacque, the FCC Program 
won AETC FCC Program of the Year for the first time since the inception 
of the child care programs at Little Rock AFB. When the program was 
under the AETC Majcom, Jacque was asked by AETC staff to mentor new 
providers.
  She would also work closely with fellow coordinators from other bases 
to gain new ideas or find better ways to improve the FCC program at 
Little Rock.
  Jacque has a love of music and especially enjoys singing. She is a 
member of Park Hill Christian Church Chancel Choir and also performs 
solos for special music functions and serves as Chairman of the 
Trustees for PHCC as well as serving on the Church Cabinet and Church 
Board. She is also a member of the Arkansas Chorale Society (ACS) where 
she sings in the Messiah and their spring concerts. During these 
concerts she has provided various solos. Jacque previously served on 
the Board of Directors for the ACS and as a judge for the Arkansas Boys 
and Girls Club Youth of the Year in Little Rock.
  Jacque sat on the planning committees for the annual Spring Family 
Fun festivals and the 4th of July celebrations. She along with her 
providers would have a game/information booth at the Fun Festival each 
year.
  Jacque lives with her husband Don in Cabot, AR. Her children and 
grandchildren are the lights of her life. Jacque's sons, Josh and wife 
Jennifer along with their children Holt and Violet reside in Sherwood, 
and son Chris and wife Leah along with their children Aliden and Ava 
reside in North Little Rock. Her daughter Amanda and husband SSgt. 
Kevin Schroeder along with Amanda's daughter Aislinn Grubb are 
stationed in Geilenkirchen, Germany. Jacque also has a step-
grandaughter, Sylvia Schroeder, who resides in Manhattan, KS.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. 
Jacque Johannes for her years of dedication and hard work.

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