[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 121 (Wednesday, July 23, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1540]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO RANDALL COLLINS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 23, 2008

  Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding 
academic leader from my district, Randall Collins, Superintendent of 
Waterford, Connecticut public schools. On July 24, he will be inducted 
as the 2008-2009 President of the American Association of School 
Administrators (AASA) in a ceremony to be held in St. Louis, Missouri.
  For the past 18 years, Randy has dedicated his personal and 
professional life to the children, teachers, and faculty of the 
Waterford public school system in eastern Connecticut. Prior to joining 
the Waterford public school system, he was Superintendent of 
Easthampton, Massachusetts public schools. Over the course of his 
career, Randy has served as the President of the Connecticut 
Association of Public School Superintendents, Co-president of the New 
England Association of School Superintendents, and has been awarded 
with numerous accolades including Connecticut's 2002 Superintendent of 
the Year. Under Randy's leadership, four Waterford schools will also 
undergo a ``green overhaul'' to integrate green technologies such as 
geothermal heating and cooling pumps in the schools' infrastructure.
  The AASA is a national association of educational professionals that 
advocate for improvements in our public education systems as well as 
for the advancement of children's issues. As President of the AASA, 
Randy will guide these objectives in a national context. Over the 
coming year, he will serve as Chairman of the AASA's national 
convention in San Francisco, travel to Peru to speak with the country's 
Ministers of Education, and discuss national educational priorities 
with members of Congress.
  Madam Speaker, the success of our education systems relies on the 
strength and passion of our academic leaders. Mr. Collins has 
exemplified these traits and I remain confident that he will spark the 
same passion for children's education in his colleagues at the AASA. I 
ask my colleagues to join with me and my constituents in recognizing 
his significant contributions to public education and welcome him as 
the new AASA President.

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