Presentation Honoring Virginia Teacher of the Year
Delegate Al Eisenberg gave the following speech on the floor of the House of Delegates as a center aisle presentation for MS. LAURIE SULLIVAN OF ARLINGTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA TEACHER OF THE YEAR--2004
Mr. Speaker, may I assume the center aisle for the purpose of a presentation? I ask the other members of the Arlington Delegation, Delegates Brink, Van Landingham, and Ebbin, to join me.
Mr. Speaker, I would ask that the Clerk read resolution HJ 316 honoring Ms. Laurie Sullivan, Virginia Teacher of the Year.
[Clerk Reads Resolution] Mr. Speaker, I think that the resolution makes abundantly clear why Laurie was chosen for this special recognition, and our delegation here is so very proud that she teaches in Arlington County, and that she has demonstrated her success there.
Ms. Sullivan is accompanied by seven colleagues we would like to acknowledge as regional teachers of the year. I know that their respective delegates are as proud of them as we are of Laurie: The regional honorees are:
1. Skip Tyler-Mathematics teacher at Varina High School in Henrico County
2. Rebecca Gurley-work and family studies teacher at Lynnhaven Middle School in Virginia Beach.
3. Judi Rinker-who teaches Title 1 reading in kindergarten through grade 5 at Smith Station Elementary School in Spotsylvania County.
4. Carol Wiatt-a seventh grade reading and language arts teacher at Staunton River Middle School in Bedford County
5. Berniece Cobbs-a fifth grade teacher at Boones Mill Elementary School in Franklin County
6. Angela Turley-a third grade teacher at Flatwoods Primary School in Lee County.
7. Jean Rohr-a seventh grade English teacher at Prince Edward County Middle School in Prince Edward County.
Mr. Speaker, John F. Kennedy said, "Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation."
The teachers here today have answered this highest calling-to teach the children so that they may realize their own hopes and dreams, and grow to be caring, understanding, knowledgeable adults, who can with the education they deserve build a foundation for a better nation, a better world for us all.
Let us recognize with our applause and with our deeds the wonderful work that Ms. Sullivan and her associates do for our most precious asset, our children.