[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 142 (Saturday, October 10, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2028]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO DR. TOM GIUGNI

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. STEPHEN HORN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 9, 1998

  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. Tom Giugni, 
who is retiring as Executive Director of the Association of California 
School Administrators. Dr. Giugni's retirement marks the end of a 40-
year career of service in public education.
  Public schools are filled with dedicated people whose main objective 
is to make life better for the students and the communities which they 
serve. But on occasion, there are those who outshine even the brightest 
educators. Dr. Giugni is such a person. Teachers, parents, 
administrators, and the business community have consistently looked to 
him for ideas, direction, and inspiration in serving students.
  Dr. Giugni's distinguished career began humbly in 1956 as a 
substitute teacher in St. Helena, California. Five years later, he had 
worked his way up to the level of principal in the St. Helena Unified 
School District, and he has never looked back. He has served six 
different California school districts, including four as 
Superintendent. I had the pleasure of working with Dr. Giugni when, 
during his tenure as Superintendent of the Long Beach Unified School 
District, he served on the Education Advisory Committee of the Graduate 
School of Education at California State University, Long Beach, where I 
was president.
  He was a dynamic Superintendent. Under his leadership, the Long Beach 
district became one of the most decentrated in the United States. The 
central bureaucracy was cut back. Creativity and innovation became the 
watchwords in the schools. Parent councils were created. Parents played 
an increasing role. Principals worked to encourage the best ideas and 
performance from their faculty.
  For the first time in California the elementary and secondary schools 
were closely linked with a major university, California State 
University, Long Beach. Many post-secondary institutions have their 
education majors intern in the schools. But the CSULB Long Beach 
Unified School District was a true partnership in which university 
students and faculty members as well as student organizations across 
the university involved themselves with the schools and their students.
  Dr. Giugni has further served California through active participation 
in numerous civic and professional organizations, including as a member 
of area Chambers of Commerce and Industry Education Councils, an 
advisor to California colleges and universities, and an advocate of 
events to fight cancer and drug abuse. His knowledge and expertise have 
been recognized by several respected educational journals who have 
published his articles, and he has received countless awards honoring 
his leadership.
  Dr. Giugni committed his career to improving education. His genuine 
concern for students, his vision, and his ability to rally support for 
public schools will be greatly missed. All of us who know him wish him 
well and doubt that he will be inactive in retirement

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