[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 108 (Wednesday, September 6, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1634]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              PAYING TRIBUTE TO SPRING VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

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                           HON. JON C. PORTER

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 6, 2006

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the students, faculty 
and administrators of Spring Valley High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, 
for their tremendous achievements in educational progress.
  Spring Valley High School opened in August 2004 as the first Smaller 
Learning Communities/Career Academy High School in the State of Nevada. 
Robert Gerye, principal of Spring Valley High School, developed a 
unique curriculum and educational design intended to prepare students 
for higher education while providing opportunities to explore possible 
career paths. The curriculum design provides an environment in which 
students can interact more effectively with teachers and 
administrators. Each grade level is housed in its own wing of the 
school and assigned an administrator and a counselor who will be with 
those students throughout their high school years. To further foster 
educational growth and individualized student attention, every staff 
member at Spring Valley High School is assigned approximately 20 
students to mentor as they advance from 9th to 12th grade. The format 
establishes a greater level of coordination between teachers in each 
grade level, increased collaboration with the local post-secondary 
institutions and rigorous academic standards intended to help students 
graduate with the preparation necessary to excel in college and in 
their chosen careers.
  Although Spring Valley High School is worthy of recognition for many 
reasons, I wish to recognize Spring Valley High School today for its 
tremendous improvement under the standards set by the No Child Left 
Behind Act. As a brand-new school in the 2004-2005 school-year, Spring 
Valley High School faced many challenges. It was classified on the 
2004-2005 Accountability Report as a school which did not demonstrate 
Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). As a result of Mr. Gerye's tremendous 
leadership, his faculty's commitment to their goals, and his students' 
determination to succeed, Spring Valley High School not only met the 
Adequate Yearly Progress criteria this year, it has been classified in 
the 2005-2006 Accountability Report as a High Achieving--Growth 
institution.
  The administration, faculty and staff at Spring Valley High School 
have approached their goals with discipline and determination and, as a 
result, they have enhanced both the academic experience and performance 
of its students. For the incredible contribution they have made to the 
success of Spring Valley High School, I would like to commend the 
following individuals: Walt Acra, Larry Adams, Sheila AIi, Lisa Ancona, 
Carlose Arellano, Rica Arenas, Jennifer Ashford, Joyce Bakkedahl, 
Teresa Barajas, Phanom Baravong, Ana Barnes, Bianca Bautista, Elaine 
Beller, Bibi Belloto, Louise Belviso, Christopher Bires, Robert Bloom, 
Donald Bohm, Christina Bolin, Liana Bolton, Marilee Botos, Shawn Boyle, 
Charles Branich, Susan Brewer, David Brooks, Elizabeth Brown, Valerie 
Bugni, Dawn Burns, Antonio Caiati, Paul Campbell, Heather Carroll, 
Daniel Casel, Charlotte Chapman, Bernard Chase, Holly Chidester, 
Douglas Clarke, Kathy Clemens, Vaunette Coache, Paulette Coleman, Ann 
Collum, George Comadena, Melissa Conley, Geraldine Conte, Laurie Daly, 
Eric DeAnda, Ann Deleuil, Patricia Delfs, Amy DeVaul, Paula Digerolami-
Macon, Suzanne Dompierre, Melody Dubois, Anna Eapen, Sindy Eisen, Ann 
Elandt, Jeanette Engelhart, Diane Epstein, Sarah Federspiel, Karen 
Florence-Hopkins, LaVanda Ford, William Fouts, Victoria Franklin-
Dillon, Thomas Fraiser, Rhonda Fritch, Jennifer Gallegos, Wanda 
Gambino, Anthony Gamboa, Richardo Garcia, Gail Garrett, Dean Gentuso, 
Michelle Gex, Robert Gillingham, Mamie Glorioso, Michael Gomez, Dennis 
Goode, Gayane Gulyan, William Hamilton, Sarah Hanes, Yuki Harada-Hart, 
Christopher Hendley, Edward Henry, Kevin Henry, Connie Hines, Caprice 
Houston-Bey, Rebecca Hutchings, Linda Idemoto, Lori Jackson, Rebecca 
Jackson, Tanya Jackson, Steven Jacobson, Jill Jaeger, Charles Janette, 
Margaret Jeffrey, Susan Jennings, Andrew Jennings, Emily Jensen, Brett 
Jeross, Shirley Jimenez, Bessie Lee Johnson, Deborah Johnston, Harlan 
Johnston, Karen Jolivette, Emily Jones, Yvette Kagan, Ethel Keck, Lisa 
Keith, Heather Kennedy, Lezlie Koepp, Joel Krautstrunkm, Morgan 
Krista!, Susan Kuehl, Denise Lauriano, Monica Lavelle, Wende Lestelle, 
Robert Leytham, Enrico Litterini, Peter Locatelli, Johnny Macon, 
Rosette Mare, Kyle Martin, Gary Mayers, Phillip McAlister, Brianne 
McElroy, Melinda McGill, John McLavy, Jr., Jackson Meeker, Frederick 
Meyer, Michelle Minggia, Kimberly Moody, Dawn Moore, Robert Murphy, 
Elonda Murray, Amy Murray, Rachelle Nearn, Jane Newton, Richard 
Niemczewski, Amy Nugent, Michael O'Brien, Michael Oliver, Serene 
Oppenheim, Rebecca Pappas, Chrissy Paradiso, Iretta Pearson, Joe Peck, 
Evan Politi, Debbie Pope, Shannon Powell, Jeffrey Pynter, Dennis 
Pumphrey, Louis Reale, Efrain Rene, Shirley Reuben, Susan Rheinwald, 
Tyra Riefler, Roberto Rodriguez, Jeffrey Rubin, Ian Salzman, Adam 
Sampson, Angelica Sanchez, Elizabeth Sandelin, Daniel Schantol, 
Christina Schenauer, Nikki Semmelroth, Nicholas Sevano, Paul Shapiro, 
Susie Shepley, Donald Shumaker, Debbie Simons, Brant Smith, Marion 
Smith, Jr., Mitchell Sperling, Gregory Stack, John Staples, Heather 
Stringham, Jen Strobel, Robert Stropky, Jr., Cindy Taylor, Marcus Teal, 
Jeanine Tegano, Jennifer Tichon, James Tippett, Bonnie Toth, Justin 
Truitt, Leota Tucker, Travis Underwood, Becky Utchel, Nayelee 
Villanueva, Clara Virga, Lynn Wentland, Stacey White, Yvette White, 
Deborah Whitt, Michael Williams, Sabrina Woodruft: Dave Yacubovich, 
Kenneth Young, Suzanne Ziegler, Emily Zierse, and Lee Zigan.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Robert Gerye and his extraordinary 
staff at Spring Valley High School for the exceptional progress they 
have made this year. Their tireless efforts to exceed the achievement 
standards set by the No Child Left Behind Act have made a profound 
difference for the students who attend Spring Valley High School. I 
applaud this outstanding achievement and I look forward to seeing 
Spring Valley High School and its students continue to excel in our 
community.

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