[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 32 (Tuesday, February 21, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E393-E394]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        HONORING ROBERT SPILLANE

                                 ______


                          HON. THOMAS M. DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 21, 1995
  Mr. DAVIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Fairfax County School 
Superintendent Robert ``Bud'' Spillane. Bud Spillane was selected as 
Superintendent of the Year on February 10, 1995. The announcement was 
made in New Orleans, LA, at the American Association of School 
Administrators' National Conference. Spillane was one of four finalists 
in the national competition, which was sponsored by the ServiceMaster 
Co. of Downers Grove, IL. Spillane was originally selected as a 
finalist among this year's State superintendents of the year, each of 
whom represents one of the States or U.S. schools overseas.
  AASA will award a $10,000 scholarship in Spillane's name to a student 
attending the high school from which he graduated, which is Windham 
High School in Willimantic, CT. Spillane also received a gold medallion 
and a $2,000 savings bond.
  For the past 10 years, Spillane has served as superintendent of the 
Nation's 10th largest school system, which has approximately 140,000 
students in 224 schools and centers, located in a 399-square-mile area. 
With recent demographic trends in Fairfax County that include an 
increasing minority student population, more students from lower income 
families, student achievement in Fairfax County public schools has 
improved. The percentage of minority students taking SAT's and advanced 
placement courses has substantially increased, as have minority 
students' and overall students' test scores. The school system's 
overall dropout rate has declined to 1.9 percent. Fairfax County public 
schools' magnet school for science and technology has had more National 
Merit Scholarship semifinalists than any other school in the country 
every year for the past 5 years. The percentage of special education 
students employed after graduation is 87 percent, compared to 46 
percent nationally.
  Spillane continually implements programs that improve the achievement 
of all students, encouraging creative and instructional approaches, and 
strengthens the core academic program of the average student. In a time 
of rapidly changing demographics and financial recession, Spillane has 
continued to focus on 
[[Page E394]] high expectations and achievement for all students, 
sending increasingly well-prepared students to higher education and to 
the work force.
  A native of Lowell, MA, Spillane holds a bachelor's degree from 
Eastern Connecticut State University and a master's and doctoral degree 
from the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT. He has attended the 
Advanced Administrative Institute at Harvard University. Spillane began 
his teaching career in Connecticut and served as both elementary and a 
secondary school principal in districts there. From 1965 to 1966, he 
was a school superintendent successively in three communities of 
increasing size: Glassboro, NJ; Roosevelt, Long Island, NY; and New 
Rochelle, NY. In 1978, the New York Board of Regents appointed Spillane 
as deputy State commissioner of education for elementary, secondary, 
and continuing education. From 1981 to 1985, he held the post of 
superintendent of schools in Boston. He took the post of superintendent 
of Fairfax County public schools in July 1985.
  Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in recognizing and 
congratulating Dr. Spillane for his remarkable achievements.


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