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HONORING BROOKE CURTIS AS IOWAN OF THE WEEK
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HON. CYNTHIA AXNE
of iowa
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, January 25, 2022
Mrs. AXNE. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize Lewis Central's 3rd-grade teacher Brooke Curtis as Iowan of the Week.
Inspired by the teachers she had growing up in Griswold, Brooke always wanted to teach. After graduating high school, she attended the University of Iowa and got her master's from Concordia in early education. She began teaching a unique program to the Council Bluffs school district known as Transitional Kindergarten, or T-K as she calls it.
Transitional Kindergarten is an amazing program that accepts 4 years and older who might not be ready for kindergarten. T-K is a wonderful opportunity to give children structured learning and development before entering kindergarten. Brooke says for many parents, they face a difficult choice when they have a child who isn't quite ready for school. As a T-K teacher, she worked with our youngest students to prepare them with the social, emotional, and educational skills.
Teaching T-K is how Brooke met Stacey Kuehn, who nominated Brooke to be Iowan of the week. Stacey was in the Harley-Davidson showroom, ready to buy her retirement motorcycle when her phone rang--she needed to become the caregiver of her two granddaughters.
Brooke met Stacey and her granddaughters when they enrolled in her class. Brooke told Stacey she could call her and that Brooke would do anything to help. She kept that promise. Brooke began helping out with childcare and offering support, and helping these two girls grow. And that's why I wanted to honor Brooke Curtis as Iowan of the Week.
Even though Brooke assures us that all her fellow teachers and school administrators would do the same, I know that Brooke puts everything into being a teacher and helping her kids. ``Teachers are givers,'' she said, ``and while I know we can't pour from an empty cup, sometimes I still try.'' She means there are days, especially over the last year, where she gives everything she has to her students. It was hard on her, and her family.
Brooke and her fellow teachers in the Council Bluff school district have been teaching A&B schedules during the pandemic, where half their students were online and half in the classroom. ``It's not a skill I wanted to learn,'' she joked.
It has never been harder to be a teacher than right now. That is why I am proud to support legislation that invests in teacher retention, teacher mental health, more funding for our schools, and supporting our K-12 families. Teachers like Brooke should remind us all that investing in our teachers is really an investment in our children.
Madam Speaker, Brooke's dedication to her students and commitment to teaching future educators ensures our kids in Iowa are in excellent hands. It is my honor to name Brooke my Iowan of the Week.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 16
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