[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 81 (Tuesday, June 12, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1078]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO DR. GLENN BURDICK, SUPERINTENDENT, WINCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 12, 2001

  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I want to bring to the attention of our 
colleagues one of the most outstanding educators in the 10th District 
of Virginia. Dr. Glenn Burdick is retiring this month as superintendent 
of Winchester Public Schools.
  In looking at Dr. Burdick's distinguished resume, it is easy to see 
that education has been a lifelong passion.
  Dr. Burdick received his BA degree in mathematics from Old Dominion 
University in 1970, and later earned his master of science in 
educational administration and his certificate of advanced study in 
educational administration both from ODU, in 1977 and 1979 
respectively. In 1996 he received his doctor of education degree from 
the University of Virginia.
  Dr. Burdick's entire educational career has been in service to the 
young people of Virginia. He began in 1970 as a mathematics teacher at 
I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth, Virginia, and later served as 
Evening High School principal at the school. Dr. Burdick began taking 
on administrative responsibilities in 1977, as the coordinator of 
planning and budgeting for Portsmouth Public Schools, where he served 
until 1983.
  In 1983 he became principal of Buffalo Gap High School in Augusta 
County, Virginia, serving in that capacity for three years. In a 
glimpse of things to come, Dr. Burdick became assistant superintendent 
of Staunton City Schools in 1986. Finally, in 1991 he accepted the 
position of superintendent of Winchester Public Schools, a post he has 
held for the past ten years.
  Dr. Burdick could easily have been kept busy by the growing demands 
of his profession. But he did not miss an opportunity to play an active 
role in his local community and the world at large.
  His activities have spanned the spectrum, serving on the boards of 
the Kids Voting-Northern Shenandoah Valley Chapter, Kids Are Our 
Concern, United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley, Winchester Rotary 
Club and the Winchester-Frederick Chamber of Commerce.
  Dr. Burdick looked beyond Virginia's boundaries as a participant in 
the Fulbright Memorial Fund, a program which included a three-week 
visit to educational and cultural institutions in Tokyo and Kagoshima, 
Japan. In 1999 he participated in the Oxford International Round Table 
on the Superintendency and Principalship in Oxford, England.
  He has been published on several occasions, most recently in the 
November 2000 issue of the Virginia School Board Association 
Newsletter--an article appropriately titled, ``Helping Superintendents 
Succeed.''
  Later this week Dr. Burdick will officially retire from his position 
as superintendent of Winchester Public Schools. But he is not retiring 
from the field of education, and for that we are fortunate. He plans to 
begin teaching full time as a professor at Shenandoah University.
  A Thomas Jefferson quotation in one of the corridors of the U.S. 
Capitol reads, ``Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and 
oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn 
of day.'' Dr. Burdick has dedicated his life in countless different 
capacities to enlightening the minds of children throughout the state 
of Virginia, and in doing so he has answered a noble call and filled a 
compelling need. We are thankful for his past service and look forward 
to reaping the benefits of his knowledge and passion for education in 
the years to come.

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