[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 25, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E230]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING SUPERINTENDENT BILL McNEAL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BRAD MILLER

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 25, 2004

  Mr. MILLER of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, the public schools are 
where we deliver on the promise of equality of opportunity. Today I 
rise to honor a man who has been delivering on that promise throughout 
his 29 years of service to Wake County public schools.
  Bill McNeal has served Wake County kids in every capacity--as a 
social studies teacher, a principal, and a county administrator. After 
3 years at the helm of our school system, folks back home knew we were 
lucky to have him as our school superintendent.
  Now our secret is out. This week the American Association of School 
Administrators named Bill McNeal the National Superintendent of the 
Year.
  Superintendent Bill McNeal has proven that even the loftiest 
ambitions can be met with hard work, boundless determination, and 
strong leadership. A key author of Wake County's ambitious Goal 2003 
program, he has delivered results.
  In 1998, 75.4 percent of Wake's third graders were testing at or 
above grade level in math. In 2003, 93.5 percent achieved the mark. 
Wake's fourth and fifth graders fared even better, with 95 percent 
achieving at or above grade level scores. Last year, Wake's high school 
students averaged a 1067 SAT score, the highest average ever in the 
school district.
  Even more remarkable has been Bill McNeal's campaign to narrow the 
achievement gap for Wake's diverse and ever expanding student 
population. The achievement gap in math for students on free or reduced 
lunch shrank from 35 percent in 1998 to 16 percent in 2003 and in 
reading shrank from 35 percent in 1998 to 21 percent in 2003--all while 
student performance has increased across the board.
  Not one to sit back and enjoy these successes, Bill McNeal recently 
implemented the Goal 2008 program to continue to push ahead. He has 
outlined a blueprint to increase student achievement across the 
district's elementary, middle, and high schools over the next 5 years. 
His goal is to have 95 percent of all students in grades 3 through 12 
at or above grade level by 2008.
  Mr. Speaker, we are honored by Bill McNeal's service to our kids and 
our community, and I look forward to working with him and our dedicated 
administrators, teachers, and parents to deliver on the promise of 
equality of opportunity.

                          ____________________