Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the many accomplishments of Paige Collier, Hemphill Elementary School Teacher of the Year.

Paige Collier did not always know she would be a schoolteacher. She took a personality test at the age of seventeen that told her that her ideal career would be as a motivational speaker. She doubted this was right for her, but, at the assurance of her friends, she realized she did possess an ability to inspire others.

Paige has since used this ability to be an outstanding elementary school teacher. She cites several elements that contribute to her teaching ability: a passion to love and serve people, a devotion to putting children first, and the desire to continuously learn and grow.

Paige contributes to her school community in many ways. She organizes an annual Storybook Festival and mentors her fellow teachers, caring for their students as if they were her own. Yet her greatest accomplishment remains the connections she establishes within her own classroom.

I am honored to recognize Paige Collier as the Hemphill Elementary School Teacher of the Year. Her dedication to her students and her passion to serve her community are a shining example to all teachers.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the accomplishments of Sherry France, Barton Middle School Teacher of the Year.

Sherry France was inspired to teach by her grandmother, who taught grades one through twelve in a one-room school house in rural Virginia. A high school art teacher sparked her interest in teaching art, and after attending Radford College, she began her career.

Some of Sherry's fondest memories come from former students who have since become architects, designers, and artists. Sherry has set up a website that is updated regularly with samples of her class projects. The site offers students a chance to have their work available for their families and friends to see.

Sherry France strives to teach her students how to see what is beyond the surface. She believes that if you expect the highest quality, your students will surprise you.

It is my privilege to acknowledge Sherry France, Barton Middle School Teacher of the Year. Her passion and love of teaching have been a blessing to her community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the many accomplishments of Lisa DeLand, Tobias International Elementary School Teacher of the Year.

Lisa DeLand became a teacher nine years ago, after obtaining a Bachelor of Science and Associates Degree in foreign language at the University of Texas at Austin. To this day, she says she still considers it ``going to school'' instead of ``going to work.''

Throughout her tenure, Lisa has worked on several district and campus committees, served as liaison between campus and superintendent's office, been a member of the campus leadership team, and acted as PTA representative.

Lisa works with a wide variety of students: some average learners, some gifted students, and some with special needs. This has compelled her to find a common thread with which to tie together the learning process in her classroom. Her own curiosity and love of learning have enabled her to bring a level of fun to the classroom that allows all of her students to participate in the learning process.

I am honored to recognize Lisa DeLand as the Tobias International Elementary School Teacher of the year. Her love of learning and dedication to her students are a true asset to both the school and the community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the accomplishments of Catherine S. Rogers, Elm Elementary School Teacher of the Year.

Catherine Rogers first realized she wanted to be a teacher when she was a student in the second grade. She stapled her finger while hanging papers on the bulletin board, trying to be just like her teacher. Catherine was a teacher's assistant while in high school, volunteered in low-income schools while in college, and later served as a Teaching Fellow while getting her Masters in Education at Texas State University.

Catherine credits her mother with teaching her the importance of putting her heart and soul into the school and the students. She feels that teaching is more than lectures and homework; teaching requires a willingness to become an important part of the life of each student.

Catherine says that teaching is her ``heart and soul,'' and she loves learning new things from her colleagues, parents, and students every day.

I am honored to recognize Catherine S. Rogers as the Elm Grove Elementary School Teacher of the Year. Her enthusiasm and joy for teaching are invaluable to both her school and her community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the many accomplishments of Abigail Hernandez, Lehman High School Teacher of the Year.

Abigail Hernandez is a graduate of Southwest Texas State University, where she received a BS in mathematics with a teaching certification. She is currently working on a Masters in mathematics education, but she has no interest in leaving the field of teaching.

Her parents were part of the first generation of high school graduates from Goliad, Texas, the town where she was raised. Although they never had the opportunity to attend college, they instilled the importance of a good education in Abigail. She began her career as a tutor of algebra, offering her peers assistance free of charge.

Now a high school algebra and geometry teacher, Abigail Hernandez continues her tireless efforts to educate those around her by encouraging her students to speak out and take risks. She is currently being honored as the Lehman High School Teacher of the Year.

I am honored to recognize the accomplishments of such an industrious and hardworking teacher. Her passion for teaching enriches the lives of her whole community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the exhaustive contributions of Chris Smith, Hays Consolidated High School Teacher of the Year.

Chris began his career as a youth minister, and soon teaching became a passion. As a Math teacher, he surprised his coworkers by successfully pairing Special Education students with honors students to work on joint projects in the computer lab. Many of his students improved as much as 15 points on the Math TAKS over the last 2 years.

Yet for Chris Smith, the true judgment of his accomplishments is self-imposed. He strives to be a classroom entertainer, a friend, a father figure, and sometimes a teacher as well. His greatest asset is to positively change the course of another person's life.

Chris demonstrates to his students that they are each special and important. He endeavors to mold his students into adults that enjoy life, love to laugh, and will create a positive impact on one another.

It is my privilege to acknowledge Chris Smith, the Hays Consolidated School Teacher of the Year. Chris's passion and love of teaching sets a shining example for all in his community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the contributions of Janet Carol Patterson, Wallace Middle School Teacher of the Year.

From a young age, Janet expressed the desire to work with young people, helping out with youth groups at her church. Her interest stemmed from a desire to have a positive influence on the lives of the children in her community.

Janet sees her greatest accomplishments through the successes of her students. She is proud to offer inspiration each year, encouraging her students to believe in themselves and always do their best.

Janet Carol Patterson has taught Language Arts in the Hays CISD school district for 24 years. Among her numerous contributions and accomplishments, she values the relationships she has developed with her students the most. She has been described as ``a teacher who leaves an imprint on her students' hearts,'' and a ``second mom.'' Janet greets her students at the door with a handshake, and endeavors to open their hearts, as well as their minds.

I am honored to acknowledge Janet Carol Patterson, Wallace Middle School Teacher of the year. Her hard work and dedication enrich the lives of everyone in her community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the many accomplishments of Kristi Jackson, Fuentes Elementary School Teacher of the Year.

Kristi Jackson was inspired to become a teacher by her mother, a devoted teacher herself, who taught Kristi to do the job wholeheartedly and with a great deal of compassion and a sense of humor. Kristi now teaches at the same school as her mother, joining her in their shared goal of watching their students become successful in the classroom and beyond.

Kristi Jackson is taking her mother's work a step further, answering her call to develop teacher leadership through empowerment and encouragement learned from her principal. Kristi also feels that it is her most important contribution to instill a love of reading in her students, the same love of reading she has had herself ever since her mother read her bedtime stories as a child.

Kristi hopes one day that the walls of her classroom expand beyond her students, to include all the teachers and students of her school.

I am honored to recognize Kristi Jackson as the Fuentes Elementary School Teacher of the Year. Her love for her students and fellow teachers is a credit to her school and her community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the many accomplishments of Nadine Hogan, Buda Elementary School Teacher of the Year.

Nadine Hogan is a self-described ``crooked flyer.'' She achieved a Masters degree in Accounting, going through the motions of higher education because she felt it was what she was ``supposed'' to do. Nadine always loved children, and wanted to help those ``flying crooked.'' After graduate school, she spent time working as a therapist with children in foster care.

In 1999, she responded to an urgent call for additional teachers. She became a Special Educator because there were children who needed help, help she knew she could provide. Nadine Hogan can always get a child ready to learn by focusing on life lessons students can apply to every facet of their education.

Students have a high regard for Nadine because of the ``fun'' they have in her classes. She loves her kids, and she loves her job.

I am honored to recognize the Nadine Hogan as the Buda Elementary School Teacher of the Year. Her hard work and passion have left a lasting contribution with each of her students.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the extensive contributions of Mary Arizpe, Kyle Elementary School Teacher of the Year.

Mary Arizpe began her teaching career at seven by ``grading'' her siblings' pictures in a coloring book. She advanced her budding career by helping out in her mother's Special Education classes. Following the birth of her children, Mrs. Arizpe began baby sitting, and was lauded by friends because she didn't just watch the children--she taught them as well.

Mary began her career teaching a class of two-year-olds. The children's excitement was contagious, and she was amazed at how much she enjoyed her job.

Mary Arizpe teaches her students to like, if not love school. In her classroom, hugs and praise are given freely in a climate of acceptance where all students can feel happy and successful. She believes teaching these traits in early schooling prepares her students to weather any future challenges they might encounter.

I am privileged to acknowledge Mary Arizpe, the Kyle Elementary School Teacher of the Year. Through her passion and love of teaching, Mrs. Arizpe provides her community with an abundance of excellent leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the strength of the contributions of our immigrants. We find our immigrants, our sons and daughters, in government; we find them in the arts; we find them in medicine, in our educational system. And the strength that they provide our country has been outstanding. My mother and my father went only to a third and sixth grade education. They worked hard. They taught us how to work hard, and they taught us the power of education.

This is why it is important that we recognize the strength and the diversity that our country is based on the immigrants, especially now that we rise and we see the Cinco de Mayo, especially my district, which is about 68 percent Hispanics. We should thank their contributions and recognize that contribution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the many accomplishments of Connie Headrick, Rahe Bulverde Elementary School Teacher of the Year.

Connie Headrick holds a Bachelor's degree from Dakota State College in Madison, South Dakota, and a Master's degree from the National Louis University, European Region. She has 30 years of experience as an educator. Today, she is a Resource Special Education teacher at Rahe Bulverde Elementary School, in the Comal Independent School District.

Ms. Headrick believes that the best results are achieved by treating each child as an individual. She summarizes her teaching philosophy by saying, ``each student has needs, and addressing these needs with respect gives the child value.'' Once children learn to value themselves, Ms. Headrick says, they can begin to accomplish their goals.

Connie Headrick is a valuable and dedicated educator. Her 30 years of experience have made her an effective teacher and a tremendous resource for her students, and for the families of the Comal Independent School District. By teaching her students how to value themselves and see their own potential, she opens up a brighter future for them. She is truly a credit to her profession, and I am proud to have the chance to recognize her here.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Melanie Taylor for her outstanding contributions to education in the Comal Independent School District of Texas.

Ms. Taylor earned her Bachelor's degree in music from Texas State University in San Marcos. But having fallen in love with the Spanish language and culture at an early age, Melanie Taylor began teaching elementary Spanish in Mexico. Ever since then, Melanie has passed on her passion for Spanish and her appreciation of the Hispanic culture to every student she teaches.

Melanie Taylor has been teaching for 18 years and is now a Spanish teacher for seventh and eighth-graders at the Spring Branch Middle School in Comal ISD. She loves the ``middle school attitude,'' and understands how to connect with her students during their crucial preteen years.

Melanie Taylor summarizes her teaching philosophy this way: ``I work hard to teach them [students] not to settle for mediocrity and I try to lead them to become caring and kind individuals who will treat each other with respect and dignity. I try to be a good listener and to help them look for the best solutions to their problems using strong moral values.'' She has also been dedicated to helping Hispanic students gain a greater sense of pride in their heritage, and their roots. In her efforts, she has helped students understand the advantage and necessity of being multilingual in an increasingly competitive world.

Besides teaching Spanish, Taylor also is the sponsor of Spring Branch Middle School's Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). Through FCA, she and more than 100 student leaders plan socials and conduct community service projects. For her many achievements as an educator, Taylor received the Comal lSD's 2004 KENS5 TV Station ExCEL Teacher of the Year Award.

I am honored to have had the opportunity to recognize such a dedicated teacher and community leader in Comal ISD.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the accomplishments of Susan Dawson, who teaches at Specht Elementary School in the Comal Independent School District.

Today's teachers not only serve as educators but also as friends and sometimes even role-models to their students. Susan Dawson is one of those teachers. Not only does she present the mere ``textbook'' information but she treats her students as if they were family. Ms. Dawson realizes that students are unique and because of this they require different approaches to being taught. This methodology of universal teaching has made Ms. Dawson the successful teacher she is today.

Receiving her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Texas State University in San Marcos, Ms. Dawson has accompanied her degrees with 9 years of experience in the classroom to establish a greater understanding of what students need from their teachers.

It is for this commitment that she has proved herself to be an invaluable asset to the students of Comal County, and it is with great honor that I recognize her here today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the accomplishments of Regina Neely, Kate Russey, and Charles Sanford, the Navarro Independent School District Teachers of the Year.

Charles Sanford is the librarian at Navarro Elementary School. He holds both a Bachelors of Arts from Texas State University and a Master of Science from the University of North Texas. He has previously taught third grade reading at Navarro Elementary, and is committed to childhood literacy and to introducing all of his students to the joy of reading.

Kate Russey is the choir teacher and band director at Navarro Middle School. She graduated from Texas Lutheran University, and has been teaching at Navarro for three years. She is a critical part of Navarro's music program, and goes above and beyond her work at the middle school to serve as assistant band director for Navarro High School.

Regina Neely is an English teacher at Navarro High School. She holds a Bachelors of Art from Texas Lutheran University, and previously taught in the Seguin, Hayes, and San Marcos School Districts. She has been at Navarro for four years, and has been a tremendous resource for her 2 students, giving

them the language skills they will need to succeed in later life.

All three of these educators are a credit to the Navarro Independent School District. Teachers like them make our communities stronger and ensure a brighter future for our children. I am proud to have the chance to honor them here today.