[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 84 (Tuesday, June 10, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1185]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING DON CLAUSEN UPON HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 10, 2003

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute 
to Mr. Don Clausen upon his retirement as Principal of Annandale High 
School after more than 30 years of distinguished service to Fairfax 
County Public Schools.
  In 1966, Mr. Clausen graduated from Valparaiso University with a B.S. 
in physical education, and immediately began his service in the Peace 
Corps as a volunteer to Ecuador. There he helped local communities 
improve and enlarge their educational programs. He continued this work 
until 1968 when he began teaching at Langley High School. Mr. Clausen 
taught physical education at Kings Park and Kings Glen Elementary 
Schools from 1973 until 1976. In 1976 he became the Assistant Principal 
of Oakton High School. During that year he also finished his Master's 
in Education from George Mason University. Over the next thirty years, 
Mr. Clausen came to serve as Assistant Principal at several other 
schools including, George C. Marshall High School and Thomas Jefferson 
High School for Science and Technology. In July of 1994, Mr. Clausen 
became the Principal of Annandale High School where he remained 
Principal until his retirement.
  Mr. Clausen has received a multitude of awards and honors throughout 
his career. In 1990, he was invited by the government of Nicaragua to 
serve as a National Elections Monitor. In 1991, he received the 
Department of Community Action nomination for ``Excellence in Education 
Award.'' Then in 1993, he was once again invited to be a National 
Elections Monitor for the government of El Salvador. On December 17, 
1997 he hosted the initial national education hearings of President 
Clinton's Advisory Board of The President's Initiative on Race. From 
1998 to 2002 he served an appointment to the Executive committee of 
Virginia High School League. In 2000, Mr. Clausen was nominated as 
``Principal of the Year.'' For the last two years he has chaired the 
Virginia High School League; and from 2001 to 2002 he was recognized 
for significant progress in improvement of Virginia State Standards of 
Learning scores.
  Mr. Clausen has been a member of the Board of Directors of the 
Network of Educators for Central America and he currently serves as the 
Chairman of Fairfax County High School League. He is a member of the 
Panel at Chesapeake Chapter of the National School Public Relations 
Association, as well as a member of the National Activities Committee 
or NASSP.
  Mr. Clausen was one of five secondary school principals from the 
nation honored by the Metlife Foundation Bridge Builders Initiative, 
which recognizes teachers and administrators for forging strong 
relationships between the school's staff and the community.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I wish the very best to Mr. Clausen as he is 
recognized for service to his community and to Fairfax County Public 
Schools. During his many years of service, he certainly has earned his 
recognition, and I call upon all of my colleagues to join me in 
applauding his tenure.

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