Recognizing Lori Richert's Service to the Children of Michigan

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Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lori Richert, a native of Ypsilanti, Michigan who has been named Michigan Department of Education's 2023-2024 Regional Teacher of the Year. Her hard work and dedication to the 2nd and 3rd graders at Childs Elementary are worthy of commendation.

Lori grew up in the Ypsilanti area before graduating from Lincoln High School in 1994. A true homebody, Lori attended our great Eastern Michigan University and did her student teaching in Saline, right down the road. She began her teaching career in the same place that she spent her time as a student, in the Lincoln Consolidated School District in 2001. She has been teaching at Childs Elementary since 2011.

Over the last 22 years, Lori has made quite an impact on the children in her classroom. Her knowledge of the curriculum as well as her understanding of the challenges an 8-year-old may face makes her an exceptional teacher. Particularly with the struggles of learning in a pandemic and post-pandemic world, her investment in her students gives her the ability to help them not only academically, but socially and emotionally as well. According to her principal, ``It's not uncommon for children to make great strides behaviorally in her classroom.'' Lori is also well involved in student leadership within the building, as well as after-school events.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring Lori Richert, an incredible mentor for our youth in Ypsilanti, Michigan. As one of ten Regional Teacher's of the Year, Lori is in the running to be selected as the Michigan Teacher of the Year, a prospect we wholeheartedly support. We thank her for her dedication and her service to our youth.

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