[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 22, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1111]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO DR. DAVID LONG, RIVERSIDE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS

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                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 22, 2007

  Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to 
an individual whose dedication and contributions to the community of 
Riverside, California are exceptional. Riverside County has been 
fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated community leaders who willingly 
and unselfishly give their time and talent and make their communities a 
better place to live and work. Dr. David Long is one of these 
individuals. On Thursday, May 24, 2007, Dr. Long will be honored at a 
farewell dinner at the Riverside Convention Center.
  Dr. Long is originally from Mason City, Iowa, and obtained is Ph.D. 
from Iowa State University. Over the years, Dr. Long has served as a 
classroom teacher, coach, principal, and district superintendent. He 
was elected Riverside County Superintendent of Schools in 1998. The 
Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE) has 2,000 employees and a 
budget totaling more than $260 million. RCOE is a service agency 
supporting the county's 23 local districts with training, fiscal 
support, and certain state mandated educational programs.
  The Riverside County Office of Education has been dramatically 
improved by Dr. Long's innovation and dedication to excellence. Under 
his leadership, RCOE created the nationally recognized Riverside County 
Achievement Teams (RCAT), which have helped Riverside County outpace 
the state in improving test scores, and focused attention on specific 
issues that create problems for students.
  Dr. Long has been active in both state and national arenas, serving 
as the President of the California County Superintendents Educational 
Services Association (CCSESA), and chairing the national Safe and Drug 
Free Schools and Community Advisory Committee for the U.S. Department 
of Education.
  Dr. Long has been honored as California Administrator of the Year by 
the National Organization of Partners in Education, Superintendent of 
the Year, and received the Governor's Award for school leadership. Dr. 
Long received the Inland Empire 2003 Entrepreneur of the Year award for 
his innovative approach to raising student achievement through the 
Riverside County Achievement Teams. Dr. Long is also the recipient of 
the prestigious Marcus Foster Memorial Award from the Association of 
California School Administrators for outstanding leadership and 
significant contributions to public education by a school 
administrator.
  Dr. Long was recently selected by Gov. Schwarzenegger to serve as 
California's Secretary of Education and the Governor could not have 
picked a more qualified individual. Dr. Long's tireless passion for 
community service has contributed immensely to the betterment of the 
community of Riverside and the entire State of California. Dr. Long has 
been the heart and soul of Riverside County education and he will be 
sorely missed. I know that so many community members and leaders are 
grateful for his service and salute him as he moves on to the next 
stage of his career On behalf of Representatives Lewis, Bono and Issa, 
I also add my expression of admiration and appreciation to Dr. Long for 
his outstanding service to our children and our community. We wish him 
the best of luck and all blessings in his new position.

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