[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 106 (Friday, July 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1331]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RETIREMENT OF NERISSA BRETANIA-UNDERWOOD, PhD., FROM THE GUAM 
                        DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 15, 2011

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Nerissa 
Bretania-Underwood, PhD., for her extensive years of educational 
leadership on Guam. Dr. Bretania-Underwood is retiring from her career 
as the Superintendent for the Guam Department of Education (GDOE) after 
over 30 years of service to our island's education system.
   Dr. Underwood was raised in the southern villages of Agat and Santa 
Rita, Guam. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education, with 
a double major in Elementary and Special Education, from the University 
of Guam in 1981. After gaining teaching experience as a special 
education teacher at Harry S. Truman Elementary School, she became a 
consulting resource teacher for the GDOE's Division of Special 
Education. In 1985, she earned a Master of Science in Education, from 
the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon, specializing in the 
implications of special education placement in Guam. Shortly 
thereafter, in 1989, the University of Oregon conferred a Doctor of 
Philosophy in Education degree on Dr. Nerissa Underwood.
   Dr. Underwood returned to Guam in 1990 to become an assistant 
professor at the University of Guam and the program evaluator for 
GDOE's Division of Special Education. In 1993, she was named 
Administrator for GDOE's Research, Planning and Evaluation Division, 
which provides data on the condition of Guam's education system to 
local educators and policy makers. In 2003, Dr. Bretania-Underwood 
served as Interim Superintendent for GDOE, and in 2007, she was named 
the Assistant Superintendent of Special Education. In 2008, Dr. 
Bretania-Underwood assumed the position of Superintendent of Guam's 
public education system. As the superintendent of Guam's public school 
system, Dr. Underwood worked to address structural management issues 
facing GDOE. She made significant progress to improve financial 
accountability within the school system, and I recognize her efforts to 
utilize Recovery Act Funds to improve the quality of education and 
school facilities on Guam.
   Dr. Nerissa Underwood is married to Dr. Robert A. Underwood, the 
President of the University of Guam and former Guam Congressman. She is 
blessed with three children: Christopher, Gerecka, and Mike; and nine 
grandchildren. Throughout the years, Dr. Underwood has been active in 
many community and non-profit organizations, such as the Filipino 
Community of Guam, Iloilo Association of Guam, the American Red Cross, 
the Guam Humanities Council, the St. Paul Christian School Board, and 
the Guam Women's Club. She has contributed and devoted much of her 
knowledge and talents toward improving the quality of life for everyone 
who calls Guam home.
   Today, I join the people of Guam in extending a sincere Un dangkulo 
Na Si Yu'os Ma'ase to Dr. Nerissa Bretania-Underwood for her over 30 
years of dedicated service to our island's children and public school 
system.

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