[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 60 (Tuesday, May 10, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E918]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E918]]
      HONORING DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT JERRY WARTGOW

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 10, 2005

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Denver 
Public Schools (DPS) Superintendent Jerry Wartgow, an exceptional 
leader in our Colorado education community. Dr. Wartgow will leave his 
post as superintendent on June 1st of this year.
  For four years, Superintendent Wartgow has worked tirelessly to 
improve education in Colorado by closing the achievement gap between 
minority and non-minority students, raising accountability standards, 
promoting innovative reform and building a strong relationship between 
the school district and the city.
  Before coming to DPS, Dr. Wartgow was President Emeritus at Colorado 
Community College and Occupational Education System. He was also the 
President and Chief Executive Officer for International Training and 
Education Alliance. Dr. Wartgow holds a PhD from the University of 
Denver, a Masters Degree of Education from the University of Hawaii, a 
Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin, and has done 
post-doctoral work at the East-West Center in Honolulu and Harvard 
University in Boston.
  Denver Public Schools is the second largest school district in 
Colorado--with an extraordinarily diverse student body--and with a long 
history of serious challenges that have included teacher strikes, 
racial and ethnic divisions and difficult budget choices. Jerry has 
faced each of these challenges head on with characteristic innovation 
and enthusiasm. Through his leadership a progressive new professional 
compensation plan will be brought to Denver voters in November 2005. 
This program, ``ProComp,'' will give teachers financial incentives for 
student achievement. His vision, compassion and tenacity allowed him to 
forge alliances between parents, students, teachers and school 
districts to both raise standards for Colorado kids and to provide 
teachers the professional opportunities they deserve.
  While certainly much work remains to be done, Jerry Wartgow's 
leadership throughout his tenure as superintendent of DPS has paved a 
formidable path for the future of education in Colorado. He is widely 
respected in the community and has set a high bar for his successor. I 
ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Jerry Wartgow for his enormous 
contribution to the Colorado education community.

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