| Kim Burke Ables | | | | In honoring Burke-Ables, Norton also expressed |
| Science Teacher, Benjamin Banneker Academic | | | | appreciation to Banneker Principal Anita Berger for |
| High School | | | | providing an environment for enriched academic |
| Washington, DC- Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes | | | | growth and development and to other |
| Norton (D-DC) today introduced a congressional | | | | Washington D.C. school principals and teachers "for |
| resolution recognizing Kim Burke-Ables, a science | | | | their commitment and service to the education of |
| teacher at Washington D.C. schools ' Benjamin | | | | the city's children." The resolution congratulated |
| Banneker Academic High School, on her selection | | | | Banneker's designation in the May 21, 2006 edition |
| as the District of Columbia Teacher of the Year | | | | of Newsweek Magazine as one of the nation's |
| for 2006, and "congratulating her for her | | | | best high schools. The national recognition of one |
| exceptional dedication to the students and her | | | | Washington D.C. school and its teachers has |
| excellence as a teacher." Burke-Ables has been | | | | brought pride and high expectations for |
| teaching at Banneker for three years and has | | | | Washington D.C. school students and parents alike. |
| received praise for developing creative ways to | | | | Exemplary Teaching at Washington D.C. Schools |
| motivate her students to learn and understand | | | | Burke-Ables was among elected officials, |
| biology, life sciences, human anatomy and | | | | educators and residents who recently attended a |
| physiology, and chemistry. She has contributed to | | | | Capitol Hill reception Norton sponsored in |
| making this Washington D.C. school competitive | | | | recognition of 2005 National Teacher of the Year |
| and relevant in student lives. | | | | Jason Kamras of Sousa Middle School, who |
| Student Turned Congresswoman Praises | | | | preceded Burke-Ables as the D.C. Teacher of the |
| Washington D.C. Schools | | | | Year. Kamras is the only Washington D.C. school |
| Norton, who went to Banneker when it was a | | | | teacher to win the competition for National |
| junior high school, said that she was pleased that, | | | | Teacher of the Year, the oldest and most |
| "Banneker's excellence is attributed in no small | | | | prestigious national honors program that focuses |
| part to the excellence of Kim Burke-Ables and | | | | public attention on excellence in teaching. |
| others like her, although the school building looks | | | | This is not the first time Burke-Ables has received |
| as it did when I was a seventh grade kid and | | | | prestigious educational awards. In 2004, she was |
| Banneker was a junior high school." Norton | | | | selected to work as an educational consultant to |
| recently announced that she intends to make a | | | | the National Academies of Science and won a |
| priority for the coming year federal tax credits | | | | TEACH Fellowship (Teaching Educators Agriculture |
| for Washington D.C. school bonds so that | | | | and Conservation Holistically) with the U.S. |
| Washington D.C. school systems can more quickly | | | | Department of Agriculture to travel to Ghana, |
| rebuild or repair old schools like Banneker. | | | | West Africa. In 2003, the Milken Family Foundation |
| "Banneker's excellence despite the limitations and | | | | gave the science teacher the District of Columbia |
| the age of its facilities is the inspiration any of us | | | | Milken Educator Award. All of these awards have |
| should need to make old schools like Banneker fit | | | | contributed to her outstanding performance as a |
| for what Kim Burke-Ables and other teachers do | | | | science teacher for Washington D.C. schools. |
| inside." | | | | |