[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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