[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 74 (Thursday, May 14, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1161]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING RICHARD JONES

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 14, 2009

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Richard 
Jones upon his retirement from Oakdale Joint Unified School District as 
the Principal of Oakdale High School. Mr. Jones will be honored on 
Friday, May 15, 2009.
  Richard Jones has been an educator for over thirty-five years. For 
the past ten years, he has served as an administrator within the 
Oakdale Joint Unified School District. Since 2001, he has served as the 
principal of Oakdale High School. Under Principal Jones' leadership, 
Oakdale High School has continued to develop and reach new heights of 
academic, athletic and extracurricular success. The school has 
consistently scored among the top schools in the region on annual state 
tests. The Academic Decathlon team at Oakdale High School has won the 
Stanislaus County championship for nine consecutive years. The school's 
Occupational Olympics, Science Olympiad and Model United Nations teams 
have also succeeded under Principal Jones. He has pushed the students 
to accelerate themselves by adding five advanced placement courses, and 
also included integrated mathematics courses for students struggling in 
that discipline.
  Along with a variety of academic achievements, Principal Jones has 
also reinvigorated the school's athletic program. Oakdale High School's 
various athletic teams consistently finish near the top of the Valley 
Oak League. In the last eight years, the football team, baseball team 
and softball team have won the section championships. Principal Jones 
has been instrumental in obtaining facility upgrades at the school; 
including a state-of-the-art football field, as well as new baseball, 
soccer and softball fields. Currently, there are plans for a new 
aquatic center and three additional upgraded academic buildings. Sixty-
five classrooms now have the latest technology available to students. 
Above all, Principal Jones has created an atmosphere on the campus that 
is safe and positive for staff and students.
  Outside of his work at Oakdale High School, Principal Jones is active 
in the community. He has been a youth soccer, baseball and softball 
coach, the past secretary for the Oakdale Youth Soccer Association and 
past vice president of the Oakdale Youth Swim Team. He has served as a 
team leader for the accreditation of other high schools in Northern 
California under the Western Association of Schools and Colleges 
program. As a cancer survivor, Principal Jones has an active role in 
the annual Oakdale Relay for Life with the American Cancer Society. 
Finally, he is heavily involved with his church and has served in 
various roles over the years.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Principal 
Richard Jones upon his retirement from Oakdale High School. I invite my 
colleagues to join me in wishing Principal Jones many years of 
continued success.

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