Washington D.C. Teacher Recognized For Excellence By Congress

Kim Burke AblesIn honoring Burke-Ables, Norton also expressed
Science Teacher, Benjamin Banneker Academic Highappreciation to Banneker Principal Anita Berger for
Schoolproviding an environment for enriched academic
Washington, DC- Congresswoman Eleanor Holmesgrowth and development and to other Washington
Norton (D-DC) today introduced a congressionalD.C. school principals and teachers for their
resolution recognizing Kim Burke-Ables, a sciencecommitment and service to the education of the citys
teacher at Washington D.C. schools Benjaminchildren. The resolution congratulated Bannekers
Banneker Academic High School, on her selection asdesignation in the May 21, 2006 edition of Newsweek
the District of Columbia Teacher of the Year for 2006,Magazine as one of the nations best high schools. The
and congratulating her for her exceptional dedication tonational recognition of one Washington D.C. school and
the students and her excellence as a teacher.its teachers has brought pride and high expectations
Burke-Ables has been teaching at Banneker for threefor Washington D.C. school students and parents alike.
years and has received praise for developing creativeExemplary Teaching at Washington D.C. Schools
ways to motivate her students to learn andBurke-Ables was among elected officials, educators
understand biology, life sciences, human anatomy andand residents who recently attended a Capitol Hill
physiology, and chemistry. She has contributed toreception Norton sponsored in recognition of 2005
making this Washington D.C. school competitive andNational Teacher of the Year Jason Kamras of Sousa
relevant in student lives.Middle School, who preceded Burke-Ables as the D.C.
Student Turned Congresswoman Praises WashingtonTeacher of the Year. Kamras is the only Washington
D.C. SchoolsD.C. school teacher to win the competition for National
Norton, who went to Banneker when it was a juniorTeacher of the Year, the oldest and most prestigious
high school, said that she was pleased that, Bannekersnational honors program that focuses public attention
excellence is attributed in no small part to theon excellence in teaching.
excellence of Kim Burke-Ables and others like her,This is not the first time Burke-Ables has received
although the school building looks as it did when I wasprestigious educational awards. In 2004, she was
a seventh grade kid and Banneker was a junior highselected to work as an educational consultant to the
school. Norton recently announced that she intends toNational Academies of Science and won a TEACH
make a priority for the coming year federal tax creditsFellowship (Teaching Educators Agriculture and
for Washington D.C. school bonds so that WashingtonConservation Holistically) with the U.S. Department of
D.C. school systems can more quickly rebuild or repairAgriculture to travel to Ghana, West Africa. In 2003,
old schools like Banneker. Bannekers excellencethe Milken Family Foundation gave the science teacher
despite the limitations and the age of its facilities is thethe District of Columbia Milken Educator Award. All of
inspiration any of us should need to make old schoolsthese awards have contributed to her outstanding
like Banneker fit for what Kim Burke-Ables and otherperformance as a science teacher for Washington
teachers do inside.D.C. schools.