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Recognizing Tavia Marez as Okaloosa County’s Teacher of the Year
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| February 6th, 2007 |
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Madame Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it is an honor for me to rise today to recognize Tavia Marez as Okaloosa County’s Teacher of the Year.
On January 30, 2007, Tavia Marez was announced Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Marez joined the school district administration in 1997 with an educational background in Genetics and Developmental Biology and as a former researcher at Johns Hopkins University. Over the past ten years, Mrs. Marez has proudly served the school district, and Okaloosa County is honored to have her as one of their own.
Tavia Marez currently teaches Advanced Placement (AP) Chemistry at Fort Walton Beach High School in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Mrs. Marez is aware that if her students are anything like she once was, she must make Chemistry enjoyable. To get her students interested, Tavia Marez incorporates creative techniques, such as: songs, dances, and mnemonic devices.
At the same time, to ensure that she is giving her students the best preparation needed to succeed, Mrs. Marez keeps in constant communication with the AP College Board and college chemistry professors. Ten weeks prior to the AP Chemistry exam, you can find Mrs. Marez on Saturdays offering extra help to her students, who in turn mentor elementary school students from Edwins Elementary School. Since Mrs. Marez began teaching AP Chemistry, the percentage of students who pass the AP exam drastically increased from around zero percent to seventy and the number of students taking the course from twelve to seventy-five.
To be honored as Teacher of the Year, the proof of greatness lies well beyond the title – it lies in the hearts and minds of the students who have been deeply affected. While Mrs. Marez humbly credits her fellow colleagues with helping her get to where she is today, it is her spirit, dedication and passion for teaching, which she has developed over the past ten years that has won her the honor of this distinguished award.
Madame Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am proud to recognize Mrs. Marez for her great achievement as Teacher of the Year and her continuing commitment to excellence at Fort Walton Beach High School and in the Okaloosa County School District.
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There are no Floor Speechess to be displayed for this month.
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