[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 134 (Thursday, December 7, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2107]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING IMPERIAL HIGH SCHOOL RECIPIENT OF 2006 DISPELLING THE MYTH 
                                 AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 6, 2006

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, today I recognize Imperial High School, in 
my congressional district, the only high school in the Nation to 
receive a 2006 Dispelling the Myth Award, an award of the Education 
Trust. Five schools were presented this award by Department of 
Education Secretary Margaret Spellings on November 3, 2006, as part of 
the Education Trust's 17th National Conference on ``Closing the 
Achievement Gap.''
  Imperial High is described in the award program as a school ``just a 
few miles from the Mexican border. Seventy percent of Imperial's 
students are Latino, many of whom are English language learners. Seven 
years ago, the school was considered chaotic and low-performing. After 
. . . identifying students who need help and support, matching 
instruction to standards, and encouraging students to think beyond high 
school graduation, Imperial is now considered a California 
Distinguished School.''
  There are 773 students in grades 9-12 at Imperial High. Principal 
Lisa Tabares and her teachers deserve great praise for the caring 
environment and high standards they have developed in which remarkable 
accomplishments are achieved by their students.
  The Education Trust, funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the 
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York 
and eight other Foundations, has worked since 1990 for the high 
achievement of all students, focusing especially on schools serving 
concentrations of low-income or Latino, African-American or Native 
American students who, because of their environment, may need 
assistance to achieve at high levels. Their Dispelling the Myth Program 
honors high-performing and gap-closing schools that serve large 
populations of low-income or minority students.
  The four other schools so honored in 2006 are Capitol View Elementary 
in Atlanta, GA; East Millsboro Elementary in Millsboro, DE; M. Hall 
Stanton Elementary in Philadelphia, PA; and Port Chester Middle School 
in Port Chester, NY.
  ``These schools provide compelling evidence . . . that when we teach 
students to high levels and focus on closing the achievement gaps, 
students succeed,'' said Kati Haycock, director of the Education Trust. 
``These schools are a testament to the power of committed educators to 
transform the lives of children who too often get less than their fair 
share of what public education has to offer. We owe these educators a 
great deal of gratitude.''
  As an educator, one of my top priorities is to provide a quality 
education for each and every child. I am proud of the principal and 
teachers and especially the students of Imperial High School for their 
achievements. I sincerely thank them for their contribution to the 
community of Imperial.

                          ____________________