[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 73 (Thursday, May 15, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E984-E985]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING GAIL UILKEMA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 15, 2003

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great educator and 
community leader, Dr. Gail Uilkema, for her 16 years of service to the 
community. In May of 2003, Dr. Uilkema will retire as Superintendent of 
the Piedmont Unified School District in California.
  In 2002, Gail Uilkema was selected as the National Superintendent of 
the Year. Previously, she was superintendent in the Orinda Union School 
District, Assistant Superintendent in the Reed Union School District, 
and principal/teacher in California, Alabama, and England. Dr. Uilkema 
is President of Suburban School Superintendents.
  Dr. Uilkema has inspired her East Bay community to contribute 
financial support for the

[[Page E985]]

children of Piedmont. In 2001, under her leadership, a parcel tax 
raising $4.2 million annually for Piedmont's schools passed with a 
78.78 percent yes vote. Previously a bond for $30 million was passed 
for school renovation, new construction and technology.
  Dr. Uilkema has a strong interest in international education. She has 
served on the Board of Directors of AAIE (Association for the 
Advancement of International Education), and also has made 
presentations in Africa, Australia, Asia, and North America. She has 
raised funds for projects in Rwanda, Turkey, Ethiopia, and Kenya.
  Dr. Uilkema is actively involved with the University of California. 
She served as a Regent of the University of California where she 
chaired the Educational Policy Committee. She received the outstanding 
service award from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 
1999. Dr. Uilkema continues to participate in professional committees 
including California Assessment Policy, National Association of School 
Executives (chair), Executive Leadership Center Advisory, Mills College 
Department of Education Advisory, Association of California School 
Administrators Superintendents, California State Department of 
Education Elementary Task Forces, and the Association of California 
School Administrators Symposium (chair).
  Dr. Uilkema has received the Outstanding Administrator of the Year 
Award for her region. In 1996 she was selected as one of 100 women in 
the United States to participate in Leadership America. Additionally, 
she received a National Endowment for the Humanities fellowship to 
study at Stanford, and a National Geographic Society/Smithsonian 
Institution scholarship to study in Africa.
  Finally, as we honor Dr. Uilkema today, I want to thank her for being 
an exemplary role model, administrator, and teacher. I take great pride 
in joining Dr. Uilkema's family, friends and colleagues to recognize 
and salute the accomplishments and contributions of Gail G. Uilkema.

                          ____________________