[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12941]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING LESLIE WOODY

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. CORY GARDNER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 23, 2014

  Mr. GARDNER. Mr. Speaker, Abecedarium. A-b-e-c-e-d-a-r-i-u-m. 
Abecedarium.
  It was 1985 and I was in the fifth grade at Yuma Middle School. Back 
then, the school held the fourth through eighth grades under one roof. 
As a fifth grader, we weren't the new kids any more, getting used to a 
new school. And we certainly weren't the oldest or the coolest. We 
weren't in junior high and we didn't get outdoor camp like the sixth 
graders. We were in sort of a ``tweener'' grade for a tweener age--long 
before any of us knew there was any such thing as a tween.
  But what we lacked in age rights or age slights, we made up for in 
our teacher, Leslie Woody. With a Bachelor's degree from Colorado 
College, Mrs. Woody began her teaching career in 1980, and after 34 
years in the Yuma School District RJ-1 (and a Master's degree along the 
way), retired this year. It's hard to believe that anyone can stay in 
the same workplace for 34 years; today, the average length of a job is 
just under 5 years. But for the hundreds of kids who were lucky enough 
to call her our teacher, we are very glad (and blessed) that she did. 
It's hard to believe she had only been teaching for 5 years when she 
met the motley class of 1993!
  She taught us to be happy (it's hard to do!). Positive about life. To 
surprise people with optimism.
  And she was the Superspeller's super coach. I couldn't spell bupkis 
(sp?) without her. She taught us to compete, to excel, and not be 
afraid. To work hard and study. We made it to the district, regional, 
and state spelling bees. We got crushed by the students from St. 
Mary's, but we made it nonetheless. We gained confidence that only 
comes from hard work and perseverance and hours of practice. Perhaps 
the most important thing, and her secret lesson plan all along, was 
that Mrs. Woody taught us the lesson of how to learn.
  Our daughter is entering fifth grade this year. And while Mrs. Woody 
will not be teaching her, there are other great teachers who will shape 
her young life the way Mrs. Woody shaped ours, something Jaime and I 
are certainly grateful for. But no one can ever replace the special 
place for a special teacher who helped make someone--who helped make 
me--who they are today.
  For your years of service to our children and the future, and for the 
impact you had on my life, thank you. Please accept this recognition 
from one member of the United States House of Representatives and your 
student, knowing you made a difference.
  Thank you. T-h-a-n-k y-o-u. Thank you.

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