[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 51 (Wednesday, April 2, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E483]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  PAYING TRIBUTE TO CLAUDE G. PERKINS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JON C. PORTER-

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 2, 2008

  Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Claude G. Perkins 
for his long and distinguished career in teaching, program development, 
and educational leadership, and commend him on having a school named 
after him within the Clark County School District in his honor.
  Claude is a graduate of Mississippi Valley State University, where he 
received his bachelor of arts in political science. He also earned a 
master's degree in teaching economics from the Krannert School of 
Management at Purdue University and his Ph.D. in instructional 
supervision from the Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. In 1978, Claude 
was appointed to be the superintendent of the Clark County School 
District, where he served as the first African-American superintendent 
for 12 years.
  During his time as superintendent, there was an increase in students' 
performance results with standardized testing; an increase in the 
percentage of women hired as administrators and department heads, and 
expansion of various vocational programs within the school district.
  After his time spent as superintendent, Claude became a tenured 
professor at Clarion University of Pennsylvania and the founding 
director of the Center for Educational Leadership at Clarion 
University. Following his time at Clarion, Dr. Perkins came to Albany 
State University as a professor and dean of the College of Education in 
1997. Three years later he was promoted to associate vice president for 
academic affairs, and dean of the Graduate School. During his time 
spent as the dean of the Graduate School, graduate enrollment reached 
its highest level, new graduate faculty criteria were implemented, and 
most graduate programs were nationally accredited. Faculty scholarships 
and research interest were supported, more on-line classes were 
developed, and the post-tenure review process became well established 
at the university. He also established five international partnership 
agreements to promote expanded international opportunity for students 
and faculty members.
  Claude has been the recipient of many awards, including the Medal of 
Merit Award from the Ohio University in 1982, the City of Richmond, 
Virginia Resolution in Recognition of Educational Leadership in 1997, 
the James Herbert White Preeminence Award for Education and Academics 
in 2002, and the Nevada State Senate Resolution of Educational 
Achievement in 2005. He presently serves as a professor of educational 
leadership, chair of the College Education Committee on graduate 
education and is the team leader for the African Educational Research 
Network, USA.
  Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor the accomplishments of Claude G. 
Perkins as an experienced educator. I would also like to congratulate 
him on having an elementary school named in his honor by the Clark 
County School District.

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