[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 105 (Wednesday, September 8, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1558]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        A TRIBUTE TO NANCY KRAUS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 8, 2004

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor and pride that I rise 
today to pay tribute to Mrs. Nancy Kraus who is retiring after 22 years 
of dedicated service to the San Mateo Union High School District.
  The students, teachers, parents, administrators, and members of the 
community who had the honor of working with her, first at Capuchino 
High School, then at the San Mateo Union High School District Office, 
offer their highest praise and appreciation for her years of service. 
She exemplifies the highest ideals of loyalty, professionalism, and 
devotion to duty.
  During 8 years at Capuchino High School, as Administrative Assistant 
to two Principals, Mrs. Kraus was able to involve parents in their 
children's education like no one had before. She designed and wrote a 
newspaper for parents, and created a weekly column that praised the 
accomplishments of students and informed the community of initiatives 
at the school. She developed activities for the annual Capuchino Open 
House that celebrated both the high school and the community and 
resulted in the largest parent participation ever at that event. In 
addition, she was the recipient of the Martin Luther King Award for 
Outstanding Leadership, presented by the Capuchino Black Student Union, 
as well as the Woman of the Year Award from the student government of 
the school.
  At the District Office, Mrs. Kraus served as Executive Assistant to 
two Superintendents where her immense skills and deep commitment to 
education earned her the highest esteem and trust by all whose lives 
she touched. Mr. Speaker, Nancy Kraus was the consummate problem solver 
tackling issues both large and small with persistence. In recent years, 
she gave primary and critical leadership during four major bond 
campaigns that provided $137.8 million in necessary resources so that 
the San Mateo Union High School District could renovate and reconstruct 
its six comprehensive high schools to meet the demands of a 21st 
century education.
  Mr. Speaker, Nancy's involvement went far beyond the duties of the 
offices in which she worked. She was a founding member of the San Bruno 
Community Theater and conducted all of its public relations for several 
years. She encouraged students to participate in the annual Millbrae 
Lions Club essay contest. She was a co-advisor to student government. 
She shared her love of opera by offering students voluntary education 
in opera appreciation which she taught during the lunch hour and then 
took full busloads on special field trips to performances of the San 
Francisco Opera.
  Mr. Speaker, at the start of the coming school year, Nancy Kraus will 
be immensely missed. However, her brilliant leadership, the thoughtful, 
caring and constructive guidance she provided, the complex and 
difficult problems she helped to solve, and the skills she brought to 
her work all helped to make the San Mateo Union High School District 
the excellent educational institution that I am proud to represent. I 
know she deserves every extra moment that she will get to spend with 
her husband, daughter and two grandchildren. I urge all of my 
colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Nancy Kraus, whose 
contributions to students, staff, and community will not be forgotten.

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