[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 55 (Thursday, April 14, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S2501]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO RAMON C. CORTINES

 Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I wish to honor Ramon C. 
Cortines, his distinguished career and his dedication to improving our 
Nation's schools. Cortines is retiring today after 55 years in public 
education.
  I know Ramon, or ``Ray,'' as the superintendent of the Los Angeles 
Unified School District in Los Angeles, CA--the Nation's second largest 
school district. I applaud Ray for being a zealous advocate on behalf 
of the Los Angeles Unified School District and the State of California. 
His tireless efforts helped to bring Federal funding and reform to its 
schools, especially during this difficult time of budget cuts and 
teacher layoffs.
  Ray has committed himself to educating young minds. His career 
started with humble beginnings as a teacher in elementary, middle and 
high schools. After his first teaching job in Aptos, Ray became a 
teacher and administrator in Covina, CA.
  His career flourished, taking him to administrative positions of 
principal, assistant superintendent, administrative director and 
superintendent. Ray became an administrator for 4 years and 
superintendent of schools for 11 years in Pasadena, CA; superintendent 
in San Jose, CA, for 2 years; superintendent in San Francisco for 6 
years; and New York City Schools chancellor for 2 years.
  Ray also recognizes the importance of higher education. He has acted 
as a consultant to the University of California, the California State 
University and the California Community College systems.
  Ray's leadership didn't stop at the local level. In December 1992, he 
chaired a U.S. Department of Education transition team for then-
President-elect Clinton. Ray served as a senior adviser to former U.S. 
Secretary of Education Richard Riley. He was also nominated to serve as 
Assistant Secretary of Education for Intergovernmental Affairs by 
President Bill Clinton. He served on numerous task forces and 
committees with the California Department of Education, U.S. Department 
of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
  Ray isn't afraid to fight for California schools. He has advocated on 
behalf of teachers and students in California by testifying on Capitol 
Hill about the importance of increasing funding for title I and special 
education programs, as well as saving teachers' jobs.
  Ray dedicated himself to serving his country in other ways. He served 
in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955.
  I admire Ray's hard work, dedication and commitment to raising 
academic achievement and turning around low-performing schools. As Los 
Angeles Unified School District Superintendent, Ray concentrated on 
improving instruction and teacher quality. Under his leadership, the 
district experienced a 16-point increase on the 2010 California 
Academic Performance Index. The district's overall score topped the 700 
threshold for the first time. Ray restructured the first school in the 
district--Fremont High School. Ray's leadership style is no-nonsense 
and I applaud him for what he has accomplished.
  All of us who care about providing every student with a quality 
education will miss him.
  I congratulate Ray on his years of remarkable service to our Nation 
and to our State's education system. We are grateful to him for his 
leadership and commitment to making the classroom a better place for 
our students. I am sure that his students and colleagues will always 
remember the impact he made on their lives and their 
communities.

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