[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 9 (Thursday, January 15, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E99-E100]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IN HONOR OF SECRETARY VALERIE A. WOODRUFF

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 15, 2009

  Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise 
today to recognize Valerie Woodruff, Delaware's Secretary of Education. 
Val will retire this year after a 44 year career in public education 
and serving the state of Delaware for over 30 years.
  During her term as Secretary, Val led the implementation of 
Delaware's accountability system and worked with Congress and the U.S. 
Department of Education to implement the federal No Child Left Behind 
Act in Delaware.
  Although Val's work in public education began long before her service 
in Delaware, Val has had a huge positive impact on Delaware's education 
system. Val led the development of the first school-based Wellness 
Center in Delaware that has served as a model for additional Delaware 
schools. Val served as a Thomson Fellow for the Coalition of Essential 
States, where she participated in, and conducted workshops in her 
capacity and was selected as Delaware's Principal of the Year in 1990. 
Val also serves as a member of several boards including the Delaware 
Workforce Investment Board and its Youth Council and the State Chamber 
of Commerce Partnership.
  Additionally, Val represents Delaware on the Southern Regional 
Education Board, serves on the Executive Committee of the Southern 
Regional Education Board, and is the first K-12 educator to serve as 
Vice Chair. She also served as President of the Council of Chief State 
School Officers from November 2005 to November 2006.
  Val was born in Steubenville, Ohio and grew up in West Virginia. She 
attended Alderson Broaddus College in Philippi, West Virginia and 
graduated in 1966 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education 
in English and Social Studies. In 1971, Val began her work in Delaware 
and received her Master of Education degree in Guidance and Counseling 
from the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware.
  I would like to thank Val for her many years of service and her focus 
on developing quality teachers and school leaders, as well as the 
importance of providing an excellent educational experience to all 
children in Delaware. Val's work has resulted in improved student 
achievement and positive recognition of Delaware public education.

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