2001CRE2140B GUILLERMO A. GOMEZ: TEACHER OF EXCELLENCE
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[Congressional Record: November 27, 2001 (Extensions)]
[Page E2140-E2141]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr27no01-38]
GUILLERMO A. GOMEZ: TEACHER OF EXCELLENCE
______
HON. BOB FILNER
of california
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 27, 2001
Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, and colleagues, I rise today to recognize
and honor Guillermo A. Gomez, a sixth-grade bilingual teacher at Vista
Square Elementary School in Chula Vista, California.
Mr. Gomez was nominated by the California Teachers Association (CTA)
for the prestigious National Education Association Foundation Award for
Teaching Excellence. He was the only California teacher, chosen from a
pool of more than 300,000 educators, to represent our state of
California. Although he was not the final winner, his nomination is a
glowing tribute to his service to our children.
CTA President Wayne Johnson's nomination letter includes the
following information about Mr. Gomez and his achievements: ``CTA
conducted a search for nominees for this prestigious award. Many
excellent California teachers were nominated, but Mr. Gomez stood head
and shoulders above the rest. Not only is he an excellent teacher, but
he is also an inspiring one. He created an after-school program called
Circle of Little Brothers and Circle of Little Sisters, where he helps
upper-elementary students explore possibilities for their futures. He
coordinates an after-school homework center and takes the lead in
training staff on English language development standards.
Becoming concerned that there were few males, especially of Latino
descent, who were involved in a school with many Latino children, Mr.
Gomez, along with another teacher, created a group called ``Mi Papa''
in the community resource center. This program helps bring fathers into
the school community as role models and pairs them with children in
educational and art activities.
Despite the fact that he has been a teacher for only six years, Mr.
Gomez is active in his local CTA chapter, Chula Vista Educators. He
serves on many communities and, as an association representative, he
kept teachers in his school informed and focused during recent
negotiations with the school district. He is also the chair of the
political action committee for his local association. In short, CTA
believes that Mr. Gomez exemplifies all the qualities that are present
in the best teachers: dedication, caring, innovation and creativity,
and teaching excellence.''
Both Marilyn Prall, Principal, and Martha Deichler, Associate
Principal of his school, who was Mr. Gomez' mentor, attest to his
efforts to grow professionally and to become the best teacher
possible--asking for advice, taking suggestions, and making them work
in his own classroom. They believe that his passion for teaching has
enabled him to become the excellent teacher he is today.
Mr. Gomez also works outside the classroom walls with the families of
his students. He believes that only as an active social agent in the
community can a teacher provide opportunities for students to advance
in this competitive society. He participates in literacy nights,
harvest carnivals, job-a-thons, and fundraising activities, such as car
washes and haunted houses, to make sure that all of his students can go
to sixth grade camp. In his ``spare time'', he also coaches soccer!
Mr. Gomez' public service goes beyond his local community. He and his
students are often involved in charitable activities to help victims of
natural disasters thousands of miles away. He is compassionate and
appreciative of all people and cultures. His students know that he
cares deeply about them and their families, and they return year after
year to visit Mr. Gomez after their elementary school graduation.
Mr. Gomez is a graduate of San Diego State University (SDSU) and
holds a Bilingual Cross-Cultural Language Academic Development multiple
subject credential. He will receive his Master's Degree in Latin
American studies from SDSU this coming summer. In addition, he
regularly attends Saturday workshops, after-school in servicing
training, and district workshops. He reads professionally and
implements in his classroom the methods and ideas supported by current
research.
Mr. Gomez knows the abilities of each and every one of his students
and works to help each child achieve his or her full potential. He is
proud to be a teacher, and I am proud that he is a teacher in my
Congressional District. He will be honored by the National Education
Association Foundation for the Improvement of Education in Washington,
DC on December 6, 2001.
[[Page E2141]]
A sincere thank you, Mr. Gomez, for your dedication to our young
people, the future of our nation.
____________________