Ron Kind: “I rise tonight to honor Michelle Parks and her contributions as a great American educator at Northstar Middle School in…”

“I rise tonight to honor Michelle Parks and her contributions as a great American educator at Northstar Middle School in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. President Bush has honored Ms. Parks with the 2005 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science, the Nation's highest honor for teaching in these fields. In addition to the national recognition that comes with the award, Ms. Parks will receive a National Science Foundation Grant of $10,000. Ms. Parks teaches eighth grade mathematics, and her colleagues and principal at Northstar Middle School regard her as crucial to the success of the school and the performance of her students. Admired for her enthusiasm, creativity and knowledge, Ms. Parks is one of the most dedicated educators in the State of Wisconsin and nationwide. She is an advocate and pioneer for many collaborative efforts, including the connected mathematics programs. This program creates a complete mathematics curriculum that helps students systematically develop a deeper understanding of elementary mathematical concepts. Mr. Speaker, we are deeply indebted to teachers such as Ms. Parks, who are the leaders in sustaining our Nation's innovation and competitiveness with our students. And on behalf of a grateful Nation, but especially on behalf of her students, we thank her for her many years of dedication and congratulate her here this evening. Mr.…”