[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 17, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1473]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING SISTER DORITA WOTISKA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 17, 2009

  Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Sister Dorita 
Wotiska, O.P. as she retires from her position as Superintendent of 
Catholic Education for the Diocese of Lansing. A dinner will be held in 
her honor on June 22 in Lansing, Michigan.

  Sister Dorita entered the Adrian Dominican Sisters in 1954 and 
embarked upon her career as an educator. After working at the 
elementary level first as a teacher then assistant principal and 
principal, Sister Dorita became the Assistant Superintendent of Schools 
in the Diocese of Gaylord. She moved to the position of Associate 
Superintendent with the Diocese of Lansing before assuming the duties 
of Superintendent for the Diocese in 1986. In 1994 she accepted the 
additional responsibilities of Chairperson of the Department of 
Education and Catachesis and became a member of the Bishop's Cabinet. 
In this capacity she supervised 47 Catholic schools with a combined 
enrollment of 15,000 students.
  In addition to her Diocesan duties, Sister Dorita is the President of 
the Michigan Association of Non-Public Schools and she is a member of 
the Education Committee of the Michigan Catholic Conference. The list 
of organizations Sister Dorita has served with over the years is 
extensive and includes: the United States Department of Education 
National Review Board for the Blue Ribbon Schools Program, Task Force 
on Restructuring the Diocese of Lansing Offices, Michigan Association 
of Middle School Educators, National Conference of Catholic Schools for 
the 21st Century, School Financial Management Services Inc., United 
States Department of Education Exemplary Schools Program, Michigan Non-
Public School Accrediting Association, Board of Trustees for Adrian 
Dominican Independent Schools, Michigan State Board of Education 
Accrediting Association, Greater Lansing Food Bank, Excellence in 
Education Committee of the Greater Lansing Regional Chamber of 
Commerce, Office of Technical Assistance and Evaluation Advisory 
Council and the Advisory Committee on Budget and Planning with the 
Michigan State Board of Education, Mayor's Inter-Agency Committee on 
Youth, Association for Supervision, National Association of Secondary 
School Principals, National Association of Elementary School 
Principals, Michigan Association for the Individually Guided Education, 
Michigan State University Alumni Association and Chief Administrators 
of Catholic Education with the National Catholic Education Association.
  Sister Dorita has worked with Gull Lake School District, Lansing 
Public Schools and Lansing Community College. She currently is Adjunct 
Professor at Michigan State University's College of Education. Sister 
Dorita received her Doctor of Philosophy degree from Michigan State 
University in 1980. In 1990 she was selected as the Distinguished 
Diocesan Leader by Today's Catholic Teacher and School Financial 
Management Systems. In 1993 she was elected as Educator of the Year by 
Phi Delta Kappa. She has published several articles on education.
  Madam Speaker, Sister Dorita Wotiska has spent her life focused on 
enhancing the Catholic education system and experience. She has used 
the talents given to her by God to advance educational and spiritual 
ideals and through her ministry she has imprinted the message of Our 
Lord, Jesus Christ, into the hearts of countless students. I have 
valued her input, her dedication and her vision of a vibrant 
educational system, and I pray this new phase of her life contains only 
the best.

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