[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 44 (Tuesday, April 21, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H2061]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            DR. BERTHA O. PENDLETON: A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Nethercutt). Under the Speaker's 
announced policy of January 21, 1997, the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Filner) is recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Bertha Ousley 
Pendleton and her 40-year legacy to San Diego on the occasion of her 
retirement as Superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District.
  Dr. Pendleton, as the superintendent of one of the Nation's largest 
school districts, leaves a legacy of excellence. She is a professional 
in the best sense of the word, a woman of strength, resilience, humor, 
honor and, above all, dedication to her profession and to the children 
whom she serves.
  She is determined that our schools care about all children and that 
no child is left behind. She is determined that it is not only the 
squeaky wheel that gets the attention.
  Her 5 years as superintendent capped a career that began as a 
classroom teacher in 1957 at Memorial Junior High School in San Diego. 
Following 11 years in this position, she served as a parent counselor 
at Morse High School, vice principal of Crawford High, principal at 
Lincoln High, coordinator and then director of compensatory education 
for the San Diego Unified School District, assistant superintendent, 
and deputy superintendent. She also serves as adjunct professor at 
Point Loma Nazarene College in San Diego and leads monthly television 
panel discussions on school issues.
  Dr. Pendleton has participated in the U.S. Information Agency's 
AMPART program, lecturing to officials in South Africa on educational 
issues. She was a member of the U.S. delegation participating in the 
Urban Education Exchange in London. She has served on visitation teams 
to review Department of Defense schools in Japan and in England. She 
hosted President Clinton at the San Diego school where he signed the 
Goals 2000 bill into law.
  Dr. Pendleton received her education at Knoxville College, San Diego 
State University, and USIU, culminating with a doctorate in education 
leadership from the University of San Diego in 1989.
  Her contributions in the field of education outside of her own school 
district and in countless other community organizations is a further 
testament to her dedication. She served as co-chair of the Advisory 
Committee for the Danforth Foundation and on the Advisory Council on 
Dependents' Education in the Department of Defense. She was founder of 
the Association of African American Educators and was president of the 
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She was a member of the American 
Association of School Administrators-Urban Schools Committee, the 
Association of California School Administrators, and the San Diego 
Association of Administrative Women in Education.
  The list goes on and on. She was a member of the Boards of Directors 
of Children's Hospital, the College of Retailing, the Natural History 
Museum, New Standards, Rolling Readers, the San Diego Chamber of 
Commerce, United Way of San Diego County, and the YMCA. She was on the 
executive boards of the Children's Initiative, the Council of Great 
City Schools, and School-to-Career.
  Dr. Pendleton is also a member of the San Diego Rotary and an elder, 
treasurer, and member of the Chancel Choir at Christ United 
Presbyterian Church.
  Her awards list leaves me breathless. Highlights include recognition 
by the United Negro College Fund, the University of San Diego, the San 
Diego Urban League, the California State Assembly, Point Loma College, 
the San Diego Press Club, the Salvation Army, the National Council of 
Negro Women, the San Diego Administrators Association, the San Diego 
City Club, the San Diego Jaycees, the Girls Club of San Diego, the 
Association of California School Administrators, the National 
Association of Negro Women, the San Diego Union, and the YWCA.
  She was selected as Who's Who Among San Diego Women, as one of the 87 
people to watch in 1987 by San Diego Magazine, as a recipient of the 
California Women in Government Award, as Woman of the Year by the 
President's Council of Professional Women, as Educator of the Decade by 
Phi Delta Kappa, and as Mother of the Year by the Christ United 
Presbyterian Church.
  As impressive as this list is, it really does not do justice to Dr. 
Bertha Pendleton. She believes that extraordinary measures are 
sometimes called for in order to help our children reach their 
potential. She works to instill hope and pride in all of our children. 
She strives to educate each and every child, so success and 
contributions to society will follow. She dares to keep alive the dream 
of freedom for all children.
  Dr. Pendleton is being honored at a gala event on May 2, 1998, in San 
Diego, sponsored by the Association of African American Educators. All 
proceeds from this event will benefit the Bertha O. Pendleton 
Scholarship to provide financial assistance to graduating high school 
seniors who pursue a teaching career.
  As a former president of the Board of Education of the San Diego 
Unified School District, I am privileged to count Bertha as a friend 
and trusted associate, and it is my honor to add my congratulations to 
the many that she is receiving upon her retirement. Her contributions 
to the San Diego School District and to its children and teachers will 
live on for decades to come.

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