[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 103 (Friday, June 20, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1302]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO PAT JOHNSON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KEVIN McCARTHY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 20, 2008

  Mr. McCARTHY of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
community leader, Mrs. Patricia ``Pat'' Johnson, on her retirement 
after 27 years of service on the Paso Robles Joint Unified School 
District Board of Trustees.
  Pat's service to the Paso Robles public schools officially started 
when she was elected to the Paso Robles elementary school board, now 
the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees, but 
her contribution to the community of Paso Robles began long before 
that. With her daughter, Danielle, coming up through the Paso Robles 
school system, Pat served as both a classroom and library volunteer, 
often spending her entire day at Marie Bauer Elementary School and 
George H. Flamson Middle School. She served as president of the local 
Parent Teacher Association and the School Site Council prior to her 
election to the Board of Trustees.
  During her time on the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District 
Board of Trustees, the district experienced significant growth. Seven 
new schools and three administrative buildings were built during her 
tenure of service, a local middle school was modernized and property 
was purchased that would later make room for the teacher's center. Of 
the new schools built, she knew and worked with several of the teachers 
the buildings were named after.
  In addition to playing a vital role in Paso Robles school district's 
growth, Pat also presided over several areas of conceptual 
transformation of the school district, including unification in 1996, 
of the Paso Robles elementary school board and the current board she 
serves on, as well as implementation the Middle School Concept, an 
independent study program, and accreditation of the district high 
schools and high school graduation diplomas. Throughout her tenure with 
the Paso Robles public schools, she was also an active participant in 
various California School Boards Association events.
  Over the past 27 years, the students and community served by the Paso 
Robles Joint Unified School District have benefited from Pat's 
dedication and energetic service. She worked tirelessly to ensure the 
students of Paso Robles had a school system that provided them a world-
class education to ensure they were prepared for the future and 
successful throughout their lives.
  Her many contributions to Paso Robles are a shining example of the 
dedicated public service to which we should each aspire. I know Pat 
looks forward to spending time happily in her retirement with her 
husband Fred, daughter Danielle, and grandchildren Nicolas, Isabella, 
and Jose. I commend Pat for her service to the Paso Robles Joint 
Unified School District and the local community, and I wish her all the 
best as she enters this next stage of her life.

                          ____________________