Honoring Sandra Feldman on Her Retirement From the Presidency of the American Federation of Teachers
HONORING SANDRA FELDMAN ON HER RETIREMENT FROM THE PRESIDENCY OF THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS -- (House of Representatives - July 19, 2004)
Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 714) honoring Sandra Feldman on the occasion of her retirement from the presidency of the American Federation of Teachers for her tireless efforts to improve the quality of teaching and learning.
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Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. I rise to honor the distinguished career and retirement of Sandra Feldman as outgoing President of the American Federation of Teachers. She is truly an extraordinary trailblazer of the American educational system.
Defying odds and raising standards is second nature to Sandra Feldman. The daughter of laborers and a product of New York City's educational system, Sandra Feldman has dedicated her life and her passion to her community and this nation in improving teaching and learning for all Americans.
Since taking the reins of the AFT in 1997 as the 15th president and its first woman president, the organization and its state affiliates have been an unprecedented rise in state and national standardized test scores. The AFT has also increased graduation and retention rates in schools determined to be "at risk."
This great advocate of education has been an invaluable tool in our nation's efforts to make our public schools accountable and equipped with quality teachers, textbooks and other materials needed to ensure that the truly free people are also an educated people.
Mr. Speaker, as we recognize Ms. Feldman, I would also like to extend this recognition and honor to the Texas Federation of Teachers, particularly those in my district of Dallas. Facing extreme budget cuts from the state and new standardized test scores, the teachers of the Dallas Independent School District have risen to the challenge to make sure that their students are able to compete on the equal footing.
Mr. Speaker, as I concluded, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing an unwavering pioneer in the realm of education-Ms. Sandra Feldman.