Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Moon Hernandez, Bowie Elementary School Teacher of the Year.

Mrs. Hernandez is currently a second grade teacher at Bowie Elementary. She received her teaching degree from Texas A&M University, making her the first of five children in her family to graduate college.

Mrs. Hernandez has served on the District Education Improvement Committee for the last four years and is presently the Literacy Link Lead teacher for the second grade teachers at Bowie. She has served as the second grade team leader and as a technology presenter at the TCEA 23rd Annual Convention.

Mrs. Hernandez's goal in teaching is to help children become independent thinkers so that. they can be better prepared for the real world. She credits her mother, who would not let her miss a day of school even as a young child, as her inspiration for learning and teaching.

She works tirelessly to provide her students with superior problem solving skills and confidence in themselves.

Mrs. Hernandez is an incredible contributor to her community and to her students, and I am honored to have the chance to recognize her here today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Megan Nebgen, Goodnight Junior High Teacher of the Year.

Mrs. Nebgen is the coach of the Dancin' Stars Team at Goodnight, a position she has held for the past two years. She is well-qualified for the position, having received a Bachelor of Science in Dance from Texas State University. She has brought energy and initiative to Goodnight, establishing the first Contest Team at the school.

Megan Nebgen believes that dance can be an excellent venue for growth for girls, teaching them to express themselves through movement and building their self-esteem. Her girls have won many awards in competition, but Mrs. Nebgen believes that the confidence and pride that the girls get from the dance program is their most important reward.

She believes that dance can help students in the rest of their lives, citing the fact that most of her students improve their marks in school when they are enrolled. Mrs. Nebgen also believes that team competitive dance can teach an important civic virtue: teamwork. Mrs. Nebgen herself is a team player within her school, taking time from her schedule to participate in both the Campus Management Team and the Veteran's Day Committee.

Mrs. Nebgen has made an important contribution to the health and happiness of the

girls under her mentorship. Her work in dance benefits her whole community, and I am proud to have had the chance to recognize her here today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the outstanding contributions of PRIDE High School Teacher of the Year, Kyle Wilson.

Mr. Wilson has been a teacher at PRIDE, an alternative school for at- risk students, for fifteen years. He was one of the original team of teachers who founded PRIDE High School. He has two Bachelor's degrees, in Psychology and Biology, and he uses his training to teach his students how to explore the world around them as scientists.

Kyle Wilson gives his students real-world science experience by involving them in the PHS Hydrosphere Monitors, a campus organization which protects the environment by testing the water quality of the Blanco River. The PHS Hydrosphere Monitors work together with Texas State University, which compiles the water quality information from various schools to create a picture of water quality throughout the state. This project not only provides the State with valuable data; it also promotes the attitudes and social values conducive to scientific learning, and teaches students the value of volunteering for a cause larger than themselves.

Mr. Wilson has won many awards for his work. He was named Texas Watch ``Outstanding Monitor'' in 2002, has been recognized by the National Science Teachers Association, and was Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year in 2005. This is the second time he has received the Teacher of the Year Award from his school. He has done a tremendous amount for the children of the State of Texas, and I am happy to have the opportunity to thank him here today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the enormous contributions of Deborah Rodriguez to the students of De Zavala Elementary School.

A long time Texan, Mrs. Rodriguez graduated from San Marcos High School and later went on to receive her teaching degree from Texas State University. She is certified in Bilingual Education and teaches first and second grade bilingual students.

Mrs. Rodriguez credits her husband for becoming a teacher, as he comes from a family of teachers and educators. She also gives credit to the many teachers who she had when she was younger and beginning to learn English.

Mrs. Rodriguez began to teach in 1997 when her youngest child began kindergarten. She is an avid believer in her students knowing and learning to speak more than one language, because she regrets that she started school speaking only Spanish. Her mother, who spoke and read to her in both languages and gave her a strong foundation in reading and writing, is the reason why she loves to do these things today.

Deborah Rodriguez is one of San Marcos' outstanding educators and I am very proud to have had this opportunity to recognize her today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the many accomplishments of Yvonne Delgado, Travis Elementary School Teacher of the Year.

Mrs. Delgado is a Deaf Education Teacher at Travis Elementary. She holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master's Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders/Deafness Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. She has been the Lead Deaf Education Teacher at Travis since 1997, putting her philosophy to work for the benefit of her students.

As Lead Deaf Education Teacher, Mrs. Delgado oversees the Deaf Education team of three teachers and three interpreters, as well as managing the cases of five to ten students and working as a classroom teacher herself. In addition, she provides training and expertise to the general education staff on deaf education issues, equipment, and modifications.

Mrs. Delgado has wanted to be a teacher since she was a child, and has always had a

keen interest in sign language. She is absolutely committed to her students, getting to know them outside of school and treating them as members of her family. She works constantly to provide her students with better communication skills and confidence in themselves. She is a tremendous contributor to her community and to her students, and I am honored to have the chance to recognize her here today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the countless contributions of Gayle Rhoades, San Marcos High School Teacher of the Year.

Gayle Rhoades has a Bachelor of Science degree from Mississippi State University. She has been teaching Academic Biology and Pre-AP Biology at San Marcos High School for the past four years. She combines tough discipline and dedication to helping individual students into an effective teaching strategy.

Ms. Rhoades has recently proved herself in one of her school's toughest assignments, as a teacher in the PASS program. PASS is a program for second and third year freshman repeaters. Many of the students in the program have persistent attendance and discipline problems, and are resistant to authority and advice. Ms. Rhoades has dealt with these students with firmness and patience, and her efforts have paid off. Many of her students credit her with putting them on a path to graduation and success in the face of considerable odds.

Ms. Gayle Rhoades has been a tremendous role model and source of support for her students, and an excellent resource for her school system and community. She has taken up challenging assignments without complaint, and changed numerous lives for the better. She represents the best of our public education system, and I am proud to have the opportunity to recognize her here.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the public service of Hulda Kercheville of Hernandez Intermediate School.

Hulda Kercheville grew up in Martindale, Texas. As the eldest of six children, she spent much of her youth helping her parents care for her of siblings.

Mrs. Kercheville has chosen to lead a life filled with good examples for our children. She is no stranger to hard work, having served as both an educator and a former Hays County Constable.

Hulda Kercheville has taught our kids for the last thirty-five years. She is retiring from Hernandez Intermediate School, and receiving the honorary distinction of Teacher of the Year.

Hulda Kercheville survives her husband Jack Kercheville. Her four children: Michael, Cheryl, Mary, and Jaclyn, now have children and grandchildren of their own.

It is an honor to recognize the hard work and dedication of Hulda Kercheville. Her passion for the education of our students has inspired generations of Texans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the many accomplishments of Mary Anne Guerrero Kolb, Crockett Elementary School Teacher of the Year.

Mrs. Kolb graduated from Texas State University in 1974 with a B.S. in education, and in 1981 with a Masters in Education. She has taught kindergarten for the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District for 30

years, after being handpicked by the administration as a student teacher.

Mrs. Kolb is a dedicated practitioner of bilingual education. She aims to make her students into enthusiastic readers and writers, in both English and Spanish. Her methods have produced consistent results: every year her students meet or exceed the state requirements in math and reading.

In addition to her distinguished career in education, Mrs. Kolb is also a military veteran. She enlisted in the United States Navy after high school, and worked as a dental technician. She is a consistent innovator in education. Mrs. Kolb eagerly applies new computer technology and teaching techniques in her classroom, using new information to reinforce time-tested procedures. She has been recognized for her achievements many times, receiving the 2004 Outstanding Teacher Award from the VFW as well as Teacher of the Year from her own Crockett Elementary School.

Mary Anne Kolb is one of our state's outstanding educators. Her tireless work has contributed to a brighter future for hundreds of Texan children, and her energy serves as an example to us all. I am proud to have the opportunity to recognize her here today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Teacher of the Year Rosalinda De La Rosa for her countless contributions to the children of the Bonham Early Childhood Center.

Mrs. De La Rosa began her career at Bonham by teaching Pre- Kindergarten Bilingual Education. She has now taught at Bonham for 2 years. She has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Texas State University and she is certified in Early Childhood Education and Bilingual Education.

Mrs. De La Rosa is a teacher who loves to shape and mold the minds of her students. She helps them understand that school is a safe and wonderful environment and encourages them to learn everything that they can. She teaches them that even though they may be young they are important to the class, and she helps them understand about classrooms and rules.

Her goal as a teacher is to make every day an enjoyable day by letting her preschoolers know that she cares about them and that she is there to listen to their concerns.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have Mrs. De La Rosa teaching the students of my district and I am honored to have had the chance to recognize her today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the accomplishments of Sherri Harris Stokes, Miller Junior High Teacher of the Year.

Mrs. Stokes has a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Texas A&M University. She is certified in kindergarten, mathematics, and gifted and talented education. She has taught mathematics at Miller Junior High for 6 years, and is already producing excellent results.

Mrs. Stokes knows that math can be intimidating for many students, and works constantly in her classroom to make mathematics more accessible, and to help her students build confidence in the subject. She constantly challenges her students and encourages them to try new things, an approach she learned from the mentors who were important in her own development.

She has been heavily involved in helping students grow outside her classroom, as well. She has served for 3 years as the Math Department Chair, 4 years as a National Junior Honors Society Sponsor, and 1 year as a Student Council Sponsor. She strives to make a personal connection with students, continuing to check on their progress as they move forward into high school.

Teachers of math are enormously important for getting our children ready for the jobs of the 21st century, and Mrs. Stokes has worked unfailingly toward that goal. Her commitment to education and to her students is laudable, and I am proud to have had the chance to recognize her here today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Bishop David M. Copeland for his dedicated ministry to the people of San Antonio.

David Copeland is a native of Buffalo, New York, and received his early spiritual training in the Baptist Church. He completed his undergraduate education at the State University of New York at Brockport, where he received his bachelor's degree in Sociology and Speech Communications. He earned his Master of Divinity in Church Administration at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia. He was baptized into the Church of God in Christ at the age of 18, and was called to the ministry in 1969.

Bishop Copeland was the founding Pastor of the Good Shepherd Church of God in Christ in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as serving as the Chaplain and Deputy Sheriff of Dekalb County, Georgia. He has a history of taking on especially challenging ministries; he and his wife were the first active duty African American couple in the United States Air Force Chaplaincy, and he is a board member of the Fellowship of Inner City Word of Faith Ministries (FICWFM).

Bishop Copeland currently serves as the Senior Pastor of the New Creation Christian Fellowship of San Antonio, Texas. His church has grown and thrived under his leadership, purchasing new facilities and increasing its membership. His 35 years of ministry have changed countless lives for the better, and have strengthened all of the communities in which he has lived and worked.

Bishop Copeland is a blessing to the people of Texas, and I am proud to have the opportunity to thank him today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Brigadier General Dr. Thomas W. Travis for his dedication to public service.

Brigadier General Dr. Thomas W. Travis is commander of the 311th Human Systems Wing of the Brooks City Base in the great State of Texas. Serving as both a command pilot and chief flight surgeon, he believes strongly that the human being is the real key to developing capable armed forces.

A distinguished graduate of numerous schools and universities, he has earned a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Science degree in physiology, a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences School of Medicine, a Master of Science degree in public health, and a Master of Science degree in national resource strategy. His ongoing dedication to knowledge and learning has helped to make the 311th Human Systems Wing, located in Brooks City Base, the excellent unit it is today.

Brigadier General Travis is the recipient of numerous awards and decorations, including the Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Aerial Achievement Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Combat Readiness Medal, and the Air Force Recognition Ribbon.

I am proud to honor the many accomplishments and awards of Brigadier General Dr. Thomas W. Travis. His service sets a strong example for all of those who serve under his guidance.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the many accomplishments of Texas State Board of Education Member Joe Bernal.

Mr. Bernal is a proud product of the Texas educational system. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity University, his Master of Arts degree from Our Lady of the Lake University, and his doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin.

He has amassed a distinguished record in service to his country and his state. He is a WorId War II veteran who served in the Philippines and Japan. Altogether, Mr. Bernal has more than 50 years experience in education and government service, including time spent as a social worker, a classroom teacher, a principal, an assistant superintendent, a Texas state representative, and a state senator.

During his legislative career, Mr. Bernal was a tireless advocate for education and civil rights. He championed bills that created free statewide kindergarten for needy five-year-olds, established the University of Texas at Austin, authorized the state's first minimum wage law, and expunged from the state statute all laws supporting racial segregation.

He now serves the people of Texas as a Member of the State Board of Education, a position he has held with distinction for seven years. Joe Bernal has had an extraordinary career, and his state is immeasurably better off because of all he has done. He is an example to all of us, and I am honored to have the chance to recognize him here today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the dedicated public service of Hays County Constable Lupe R. Cruz.

Mr. Cruz is a native of the San Marcos area. He attended San Marcos High School, and later Austin Community College. He began his career in public service in the military: he served in the United States Navy and Naval Reserve for 30 years, at the end of which time he received an honorable discharge.

Mr. Cruz began his career in law enforcement in 1981. From 1981 to 1988, he served his community as a Hays County Deputy Sheriff and Corrections Officer. He continued to learn and train in modern law enforcement methods, and holds both an Advanced Certification in Law Enforcement and the title of Licensed Peace Officer from TCLEOSE. In addition, he has received training in Criminal Law, Civil Law, and Criminal Procedures.

In 1989, Mr. Cruz was elected to the position of Hays County Constable for Precinct One. He has served in this post with distinction. He has also found spare time to dedicate to a variety of charitable community organizations. He is a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, VFW Post 3413, and is on the board of directors for both the Southside Community Center and the San Marcos Area Food Bank.

Mr. Cruz has had a tremendously productive and successful career in law enforcement, and his community and county are grateful to him for his service. I am proud to recognize him before this body for all the good work he has done.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the exemplary work of the Kirby, Texas Police Department.

The Kirby Police Department was established in 1968. At the time, it had only one police car, and was run by Harold Peterson, the first Kirby Marshal. Mr. Peterson received only $50 salary per month, and had to furnish his own transportation and pay his own expenses.

The department began to grow in the 1970's, under the leadership of Police Chief Bill Madison. A former counterintelligence officer and San Antonio police sergeant, Madison expanded the staff, purchased new facilities, and worked with county government to modernize Kirby's traffic control system. He was a strong advocate for Kirby, and worked tirelessly to find federal and state level funding to help protect Kirby's growing population.

The Kirby Police Department was one of the first to participate in the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP), which pioneered the use of the breathalyzer to combat drunk driving in high-risk areas.

Through the 1980's and up until the present day, the Kirby Police Department continued to grow in size and sophistication, purchasing new cars, radar guns, and 2 communication equipment. As it has grown, it has creatively used its relatively small budget to provide outstanding service and protection to the people of Kirby. I am pleased to have this opportunity to honor the men and women of the Kirby Police Department for over 35 years of exemplary work.