[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 4 (Friday, January 13, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E11]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         A TRIBUTE TO JIM QUAIL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS-

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 13, 2012

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Jim Quail for his 
distinguished career of exemplary educational services to the District 
14 community. Mr. Quail retires having vastly improved the quality of 
education for the students in his community.
  Mr. Quail grew up in Astoria, Queens, and is the son of Irish 
immigrants. With ambitions of going to law school, Mr. Quail always had 
an affinity for the importance of education to promote ones wellbeing. 
After graduating from Fordham University he decided to follow in the 
footsteps of his sister and pursue a career in teaching.
  Mr. Quail subsequently began his illustrious career as a student-
teacher in the District 14 community. His first assignment at the then 
Board of Education was to report to P.S. 132 on Metropolitan Avenue. 
Mr. Quail spent five years at P.S. 132, while also earning educational 
administration degrees in his out-of-school time that enhanced his 
professional development. With such experience and dedication, Mr. 
Quail was promoted to Assistant Principal at P.S. 250 and served in 
that capacity for five years.
  At P.S. 250, Mr. Quail would have the biggest impact on the students 
he encountered as well as in his personal life. With the support and 
confidence of student parents, school administration, and the 
community; Mr. Quail was selected to serve as the Principle of P.S. 
250. Mr. Quail would spend the next 25 years in this post as the 
educational leader of P.S. 250. During his tenure, Mr. Quail 
accomplished many notable achievements which include leading P.S. 250 
to become one of the top schools in the district.
  In 2003, Mr. Quail was named superintendent of District 14. In this 
capacity he has served as the top education official in our community, 
overseeing all 26 schools and the 15,000 children they serve. Mr. Quail 
has led the efforts to implement a number of new initiatives in the 
district. Among them includes the Federal 21st Century grant which 
supports schools in their effort to create specialized programs in the 
community. Additionally, he has increased the visibility of the 
District's involvement in community activities.
  Over the past four decades, Mr. Quail has been fully committed to 
ensuring a quality education for the students of the District 14 
community. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Mr. Jim Quail on 
his retirement and for leading the charge of education reform in his 
community.

                          ____________________