April 2, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 57 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page S2185]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO JOSEPH MALFARA

 Mr. RUBIO. Madam President, today I am pleased to recognize 
Joseph Malfara, the Osceola County Teacher of the Year from Poinciana 
High School in Kissimmee, FL.
  Joseph challenges his students each day toward success. His influence 
on the school's campus is seen with all students; from those considered 
at-risk to the highest achieving, they all note how tirelessly Joseph 
works to help them learn.
  Joseph is credited with implementing several teaching strategies that 
led to significant gains in his students' performance in class and on 
the SAT. In his classroom, 78 percent of students met their reading and 
writing graduation requirements, compared to 57 percent for other 
classes. According to the school district, the average student scores 
increased from 442 to 476 in his content area for the SAT. They also 
saw an increase in the percentage of students meeting their concordance 
score after junior year, rising from 47 to 73 percent in one year.
  Joseph is an English III, Honors, Advanced Placement English language 
and composition teacher. He also leads a mentorship group called Suit 
Up Society that is dedicated to mentoring young men who have grown up 
without a positive male influence and to help improve their lives 
academically, behaviorally, and socially.
  I would like to thank Joseph for the good work he has done for his 
students over the years. I extend my best wishes to him and look 
forward to hearing of his continued success.

                          ____________________