[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 79 (Wednesday, May 30, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E905-E906]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING STEVE SIMON THORNTON ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT FROM 
                      WILSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. G. K. BUTTERFIELD

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 30, 2012

  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a friend and 
constituent, Steve Simon Thornton, who has devoted the last 31 years to 
serving the children of eastern North Carolina. In a few days, Steve 
will be retiring as Assistant Superintendent of the Wilson County 
Public Schools.
  Steve Thornton is a native of Halifax County, North Carolina. He was 
born on November 1, 1959 to Stonewall and Garteen Davis Thornton who 
were role models and inspired Steve to give of his time and talent to 
disadvantaged children. His parents believed in the power and 
opportunity offered by an educated mind and from a very early age 
ingrained in Steve and his three older siblings the importance of 
education.
  Steve was a product of the Halifax County Public School System, 
having attended T. S. Inborden Elementary School and graduating in 1978 
from Enfield High School. Throughout his formative years, Steve learned 
that education was key to breaking the cycle of poverty that can so 
often plague traditionally southern communities. He was determined to 
give back to the community that gave him so much. And so he attended 
East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina and in 1982 
received a Bachelor's Degree in Intermediate Education.
  After receiving his undergraduate degree, Steve chose to become an 
elementary teacher at Benvenue Elementary School in Nash County, North 
Carolina. He was so highly respected by his colleagues that he was 
named grade chairman and was also honored as the 1986 Teacher of the 
Year. The following year, Steve saw a new opportunity to help shape 
young minds and began serving as Assistant Principal at Carver 
Elementary School in Edgecombe County, North Carolina.
  In 1989, after earning a Master's Degree in School Administration, 
Steve returned to his

[[Page E906]]

native Halifax County and served as Principal of Pittman Elementary 
School. While there, he instituted a number of successful programs that 
helped to create an environment in which every child could learn 
successfully. In 1992, he was appointed Principal of Brawley Middle 
School where he was so successful that he was named Halifax County 
School's Wachovia Principal of the Year. In 1994, Steve returned to the 
newly merged Edgecombe County--Tarboro City School System where he 
served as Principal of Stocks Elementary School.
  Two years later, Steve Thornton was recruited to serve as Executive 
Director of Human Resource Services with the Wilson County Public 
Schools. The following year he ascended to the position of Assistant 
Superintendent of Human Resource Services, the position that he now 
holds. Steve is well respected and revered by the community and his 
colleagues in the entire school system. They will miss his spirit of 
dedication and excellence.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Steve Simon 
Thornton for 31 years of service to the precious children of eastern 
North Carolina and for his commitment to education. I ask that my 
colleagues wish Steve Thornton God's continued blessings as he 
continues on life's journey.

                          ____________________