[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 29, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S7746]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                          TRIBUTE TO LES MEYER

 Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize an 
outstanding education leader from my home State of Montana. Les Meyer, 
principal of Fairfield High School in Fairfield, MT, has been 
recognized by the Montana Association of Secondary School Principals as 
the Montana Principal of the Year for 2010.
  Les has served in the Fairfield school system for over 13 years, 
beginning as an English teacher in 1997 and since 2002 as the principal 
of Fairfield High School. Under his leadership the school has seen test 
scores and student achievement rise every year, while the dropout rate 
has fallen to almost zero. Les has expanded professional development 
opportunities to help his teachers do an even better job of educating 
our children. He is well liked and admired by the staff and students 
alike.
  When Les was recognized as the Montana Principal of the Year, he 
humbly accepted the award and praised his teachers, staff, students, 
parents, and community members who have all contributed to the success 
of the young people in Fairfield schools. He noted how fortunate he is 
to be working in a community where folks take the education of their 
children seriously--a trait in communities across Montana both large 
and small.
  There is nothing more important to Montanans than giving children the 
best opportunities to succeed in life. Providing our young people with 
a solid education is the best thing we can give them. The investments 
we make in our education system today will provide our children with 
the skills and knowledge to be successful in the 21st-century economy. 
Montana has some of the best teachers and principals in the country, 
and I look forward to working with Les and other education leaders 
across the State to make sure that we continue to keep the promise of a 
good education to our children.
  Les also knows that life's lessons extend beyond the classroom. Since 
2004, in addition to being principal, Les has served as the football 
coach for Fairfield High. Under his leadership, the team has advanced 
to four Class B State Championship games in the past 5 years. This 
season the Eagles are off to a 4 to 0 start and are ranked No. 1 in the 
State. Les works to instill in the young men on his team the importance 
of teamwork, being role models and good citizens in the community, and 
giving it their all both on the field and in the classroom. I wish 
Coach Meyer and the team the best of luck.
  Les is in Washington, DC, this week along with other award winning 
principals from across the country who are being recognized for their 
achievements and are sharing their insights on how to make our 
education system even better. I congratulate Les on being chosen as the 
Montana Principal of the Year, and I applaud all our teachers, 
principals, and school administrators across Big Sky Country and thank 
them for their dedication to making our schools the best they can 
be.

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