[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 149 (Tuesday, November 16, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H7474-H7475]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  SUPPORTING NATIONAL PRINCIPALS MONTH

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1652) expressing support for designation of the 
month of October 2010 as National Principals Month, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1652

       Whereas the National Association of Elementary School 
     Principals and the National Association of Secondary School 
     Principals have declared the month of October 2010 as 
     National Principals Month;
       Whereas school leaders are expected to be educational 
     visionaries, instructional leaders, assessment experts, 
     disciplinarians, community builders, public relations 
     experts, budget analysts, facility managers, special programs 
     administrators, and guardians of various legal, contractual, 
     and policy mandates and initiatives as well as being 
     entrusted with our young people, our most valuable resource;
       Whereas principals set the academic tone for their schools 
     and work collaboratively with teachers to develop and 
     maintain high curriculum standards, develop mission 
     statements, and set performance goals and objectives;
       Whereas the vision, dedication, and determination of a 
     school leader provides the mobilizing force behind a school 
     reform effort;
       Whereas leadership is second only to classroom instruction 
     among all school-related factors that contribute to student 
     achievement, according to research conducted by the Wallace 
     Foundation;
       Whereas principal and teacher effectiveness have a 
     significant impact on student achievement, and studies find 
     no examples of success in turnaround schools without 
     effective principal leadership, according to New Leaders for 
     New Schools;
       Whereas the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 
     approximately 1 in 3 education administrators works more than 
     40 hours a week and often works an additional 15 to 20 hours 
     each week supervising school activities at night and on 
     weekends;
       Whereas assistant principals also play a crucial role 
     providing leadership and charting a successful course at a 
     school;
       Whereas the NAESP National Distinguished Principals program 
     honors exemplary elementary and middle level public, private, 
     and independent school leaders as well as leaders from the 
     U.S. Department of Defense Schools and the U.S. Department of 
     State Overseas Schools, for outstanding leadership for 
     student learning and the profession;
       Whereas the MetLife-NASSP Principal of the Year program 
     began in 1993 as a means to recognize outstanding middle 
     level and high school principals who have succeeded in 
     providing high-quality learning opportunities for students as 
     well as their exemplary contributions to the profession;
       Whereas the celebration of National Principals Month would 
     honor elementary, middle level, and high school principals 
     and recognize the importance of school leadership in ensuring 
     that every child has access to a high-quality education; and
       Whereas the month of October 2010 would be an appropriate 
     month to designate as National Principals Month: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) honors and recognizes the contribution of school 
     principals and assistant principals to the success of 
     students in the Nation's elementary and secondary schools;
       (2) supports the designation of National Principals Month; 
     and
       (3) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
     National Principals Month with appropriate ceremonies and 
     activities that promote awareness of school leadership in 
     ensuring that every child has access to a high-quality 
     education.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Hawaii.


                             General Leave

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House 
Resolution 1652 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. HIRONO. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of House Resolution 1652, celebrating 
National Principals Month, which was observed this October. With this 
resolution, we recognize the important roles principals play as leaders 
in our schools and in ensuring the best educational environment for our 
Nation's children.
  Most of us can recall a principal who made a difference in our lives. 
He or she was the one who walked down the hall, knew everyone by name 
and asked about our day. They let us know when we were out of line and 
smiled with pride at our success.
  Over the years, school leadership roles have broadened substantially 
to include increased emphasis on curriculum development, data analysis, 
and instructional leadership. They are tasked with complex problems 
such as facilitating systemic education reform while managing day-to-
day school activities. Today, over 100,000 principals are supporting 
our Nation's students, teachers, and parents every day.
  Since 1993, the National Association of Secondary School Principals 
and MetLife have partnered to applaud outstanding middle level and high 
school principals for demonstrated success in school leadership with 
their National Principal of the Year program.
  I would like to congratulate 2010 National High School Principal of 
the Year Wes Taylor and Middle Level Principal of the Year Cathy 
Carnahan. Mr. Taylor serves as principal of Lowndes High School in 
Valdosta, Georgia. He has overseen a 13 percent increase in graduation 
rates at Lowndes High School and across-the-board double-digit 
increases in pass rates on the Georgia standardized test. Mr. Taylor is 
well known for his emphasis on personalized classroom instruction which 
focuses on the strengths and needs of each student, despite a school 
attendance of nearly 3,000 students. I thank Mr. Taylor for his hard 
work and dedication to his school and for being the role model he is 
for high school principals nationwide.
  Ms. Cathy Carnahan serves as principal at Duniway Middle School in 
McMinnville, Oregon. She has served at Duniway since 1993, including as 
assistant principal, emphasizing an atmosphere of faculty teamwork 
which has led to increased test scores, decreased referrals, and an 
impressive student attendance rate of 95 percent or higher. I thank Ms. 
Carnahan for her dedicated work and exemplary performance, and I 
congratulate her on her recognition.
  Recently, I also had the privilege to meet Hawaii's State Principals 
of the Year for 2010. Darrel Galera serves as principal of Moanalua 
High School and won the 2010 Hawaii School Principal of the Year. Under 
Principal Galera's leadership, Moanalua High School now boasts a 
graduation rate of over 90 percent, well above the State and national 
average. Principal Galera is committed to helping his educators excel, 
and since 2002 he has hosted a statewide professional development 
conference at Moanalua.
  Justin Mew serves as principal of Niu Valley Middle School and won 
Hawaii's 2010 Middle School Principal of the Year. Under his 
leadership, Niu Valley became Hawaii's first middle school to offer the 
advanced International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme.

[[Page H7475]]

Niu Valley also has a strong language immersion program, allowing 
students to learn Mandarin or Japanese. On a personal note, I also 
attended Niu Valley Middle School.
  Great principals tremendously improve the outcomes of our Nation's 
youth and play a critical role in a school's success or failure. 
National Principals Month is an opportunity for us all to recognize 
this important role and to honor the work of all our Nation's 
principals.
  Mr. Speaker, once again, I express my support for National Principals 
Month, and I hope this resolution serves as a thank you to our Nation's 
principals. I want to thank Representative Susan Davis for bringing 
this resolution to the floor and urge my colleagues to join me in 
support of House Resolution 1652.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1652, 
expressing support for designation of the month of October 2010 as 
National Principals Month.
  Anyone who has visited a successful school or who has watched their 
children progress through their education knows a good principal is 
vital to a successful school. A good principal sets the tone for the 
school and encourages teachers and students alike to do their best each 
day. Principals are also the people who know the school's needs best as 
they are in the building talking to the teachers and talking to the 
students on a regular basis.
  Unfortunately, all too often principals are prevented from doing what 
they need to do in terms of selecting the best teachers for their 
school. Earlier this year, committee Republicans developed four key 
principles on education reform. One of those principles, restoring 
local control, highlights the importance of ensuring principals have 
the flexibility they need to help their students and teachers succeed 
in the classroom.
  Principals are key to ensuring that every child excels in the 
classroom. For that reason, I support this resolution and ask my 
colleagues to do the same.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. HIRONO. Once again, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support 
the recognition of all of the hardworking principals throughout our 
country, and with that, I yield the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1652, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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