[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 74 (Thursday, May 23, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E731]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING DR. DAVID J. VERDUGO, SUPERINTENDENT OF THE PARAMOUNT 
                        UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 22, 2013

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and 
congratulate Dr. David J. Verdugo on his retirement after forty years 
as an educator. For the last eight years, Dr. Verdugo has served as the 
superintendent of the 16,000 student Paramount Unified School District. 
He will retire in June at the end of the current school year.
  Before coming to the Paramount Unified School District, 
Superintendent Verdugo served at three uniquely different school 
districts: Spokane Public School District in the state of Washington, 
El Rancho Unified School District in Pico Rivera, California, and 
Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District, also in California. Dr. 
Verdugo has been a teacher, assistant principal, and principal, working 
with children grades K-12. He has also served as an assistant 
superintendent, where his responsibilities included school facility 
management, extensive involvement with budget development, 
implementation of technology programs, employer/employee relations, 
curriculum and instructional strategies and organizational development.
  He is highly respected throughout the school district, the community 
and the education field. Dr. Verdugo is known for his strategic 
approach to major decisions, his communication with all stakeholders 
and his efforts to build a culture where individuals care about each 
other, resulting in a dramatic difference for students. His 
communications and work at Paramount Unified during the State's budget 
crisis resulted in everyone coming together so they could continue 
their efforts to benefit children, families and employees.
  Dr. Verdugo has established a reputation as a leader focused on 
student learning and achievement. He possesses those critical skills 
essential to understanding and meeting the needs of students, staff, 
and parents. He is committed to excellence and believes that all 
students should be provided the highest quality of education in a safe 
and secure environment.
  With experience serving students of diverse populations and 
socioeconomic levels in urban and suburban settings, Dr. Verdugo is a 
staunch supporter of strategic planning and believes strongly that it 
is essential to the success of any progressive school district.
  As Superintendent, Dr. Verdugo has been instrumental in leading many 
of the school district's significant accomplishments, including 
dramatically increasing college and career pathways for students, 
fostering a resurgence of the arts, building new and transforming 
existing school facilities, and most importantly, raising the level of 
academic achievement of students to an all-time high.
  Dr. Verdugo received his B.A. from Whitworth College in Spokane, 
Washington; his M.A. from La Verne University; and his Doctorate in 
Educational Administration from the University of Southern California. 
He was recognized as the 2008 ACSA Region 14 Superintendent of the 
Year. He also received the California State University of Long Beach 
Superintendent Leadership Award for 2012 and was selected as a National 
Governing Board Member for the American Association of School 
Administrators (AASA). He currently serves as President of the highly 
respected Southern California Superintendents' Association.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in thanking and 
congratulating Dr. David J. Verdugo for his many years of outstanding 
service to our community and our young people, and wish him many happy 
years of retirement.

                          ____________________