[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 142 (Thursday, September 22, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1685]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  A TRIBUTE TO PRINCIPAL DALE BARNHILL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LATHAM

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 22, 2011

  Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Iowa's excellence 
in education, and to specifically congratulate Norwalk High School 
Principal Dale Barnhill of Norwalk, Iowa, for being named Iowa High 
School Principal of the year by the School Administrators of Iowa.
  Dale Barnhill's vision for becoming a teacher began to take form 
after graduating from Twin Cedars High School in Bussey, Iowa. Dale 
would then graduate from Iowa State University with a bachelor's degree 
in history and then from Northeast Missouri State University with a 
master's degree in guidance and counseling. After earning his 
administrative certification from Iowa State, Dale began his career in 
Iowa as a teacher and a coach at Ringsted Community School. Dale would 
go on to attain his first administrative position in Winthrop, Iowa, 
and later serve as the Assistant Principal at Pella High School in 
Pella, Iowa. Mr. Barnhill's entire career in education has been in Iowa 
and our state has benefited greatly from it.
  Since Dale joined Norwalk Schools in 1998, the high school has 
enjoyed more than a decade of positive growth. Mr. Barnhill's work with 
improving the high school and its students has directly led to the 
increased quality of Norwalk's programs. Additionally, Dale took 
Norwalk High School into the 21st century by implementing electronic 
portfolios for students to facilitate exit interviews for graduating 
seniors and an improved method for calculating class rank. Mr. Barnhill 
has not been shy about pushing students to challenge themselves 
academically, and the result has been demonstrably effective for both 
students and the school itself.
  Mr. Speaker, I consider it a great honor to represent Norwalk High 
School Principal Dale Barnhill, the teachers, students, school board 
members and administrators of the Norwalk Community School District in 
the United States Congress. I wish Mr. Barnhill and all of Norwalk High 
School continued academic excellence as they continue to have a 
positive impact on the future leaders of our state and country.

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