[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 95 (Thursday, June 21, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO RONALD BLOCKER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CORRINE BROWN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 21, 2012

  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the constituents of 
the Third Congressional District of Florida and myself, I rise now to 
offer tribute to the career and success of my friend, Mr. Ronald 
Blocker, who served as the Superintendent for Orange County Public 
Schools for the past 12 years. A visionary and scholar Mr. Ronald 
Blocker is a true leader of the Central Florida Community, and the 
great State of Florida.
  We are encouraged by Mr. Blocker' s accomplishments while serving as 
the superintendent since July 2000; it was under his leadership that 
the graduation rate in Orange County, Florida, is at the highest level 
it has ever been with the dropout rate at the lowest. A man dedicated 
to education, Ronald Blocker earned degrees in educational leadership 
and counselor education from the University of Florida. He worked as a 
school psychologist and principal. As the districts first black 
superintendent, Mr. Blocker made a name for himself and in 2011 he was 
named Florida Superintendent of the Year by the Florida Association of 
District Superintendents.
  Mr. Blocker has received many accolades and honors including the John 
M. Tiedtke Lifetime Achievement Award from United Arts of Central 
Florida; he was named the District Reading Leader of the Year by the 
Florida Department of Education's Just Read, Florida! Division; named 
the Florida Art Education Associations Superintendent of the Year; and 
received the Florida Superintendent's Award for Volunteer/Community 
Involvement. Recipient of the Chairman's Award from the Metro Orlando 
Economic Development Commission, Mr. Blocker has made a lasting 
contribution to the economy of Orange County. His influence in the 
Central Florida community has not gone unnoticed either, he was ranked 
eight on a list of the 50 most powerful people in Central Florida and 
among the top 25 most powerful by a panel of community leaders.
  He served as the President of the Florida Association of District 
School Superintendents; a member of the American Association of School 
Administrators; Florida Association of School Administrators, and the 
Council of Great City Schools.
  Described as an ``advocate of children'', and ``a teacher's 
superintendent'', Mr. Blocker was able to build new schools, and 
replace and upgrade 128 older facilities. With 33 new schools opened 
under his guidance and 62 replaced or restored, Mr. Blocker reduced 
overcrowding and removed 1,000 portable classrooms and raised the 
Orange County School District to an ``A'' Rating 3 years in a row.
  Recently by virtue of Orange County and the School Board, he has been 
honored with the renaming of the Orange County Public School building 
to the ``Ronald Blocker Educational Leadership Center.'' Mr. Blocker 
has worked to ensure healthy revenue that will continue to preserve the 
quality of education that the Third Congressional District and Central 
Florida Community deserves and needs, with his high expectations for 
employees and students. Mr. Blocker' s theme of ``One Vision, One 
Voice,'' is a message we can all truly stand by.

                          ____________________