[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 148 (Monday, December 8, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1753-E1754]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN RECOGNITION OF DR. JOSEPH OVICK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 8, 2014

  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Dr. 
Joseph Ovick as he retires from his long-held position as Contra Costa 
County Superintendent of Schools and to congratulate him on the 
culmination of a truly outstanding 45-year career in education.
  Joseph Ovick began his career as a Special Education teacher, working 
diligently to ensure

[[Page E1754]]

that each student in his classroom was given every opportunity to 
succeed. Although classroom teaching has always been his passion, Joe's 
ability to develop strong coalitions of educators, community members 
and legislators has led him into a variety of important leadership 
roles. He served as Assistant Principal, Principal, Director of Special 
Education, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services, and Associate 
Superintendent for Business. For the past 18 years, Dr. Joseph Ovick 
has been at the helm of Contra Costa County Office of Education working 
tirelessly to assure that all students receive the very best education. 
In addition to his administrative work, Dr. Ovick has taught in a 
variety of schools including Chapman University's Graduate School of 
Education and San Jose State University.
  Joe has also devoted a great deal of his time to community service. 
He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the East Bay 
Leadership Council, Contra Costa County's Children and Families Policy 
Forum and has served as the President of the Executive Board of the 
California County Superintendents Educational Services Association. He 
has also served as Chairman of the Bay Area Leadership Foundation, the 
Federal Policy and Legislation Committee for the Council of 
Administrators for Special Education, as vice-chair of the Federal 
Advocacy for California Education, he is past president of the 
Association of California School Administrators and a former chair of 
the Bay Area Region Superintendents Association.
  It is easy to see why in 2008 Dr. Joseph Ovick was named Citizen of 
the Year by the East Bay Leadership Foundation. He has also been 
awarded the Superintendent of the Year Award and the Ferd Kiesel 
Memorial Award by the Association of California School Administrators 
and he received the President's Circle Award for Outstanding Service to 
Education and the Community from Diablo Valley College Foundation. 
These are only a few of the many commendations that over the years have 
recognized Dr. Ovick's outstanding service to our students, teachers, 
and our entire community.
  But what is most important to know about Joe Ovick is that he has 
always been a ``students first'' type of educator. He has made it a 
point to personally visit students and teachers throughout the year, 
lending freely his support and hands-on experience to ensure that every 
child has an opportunity to thrive in the classroom. And it is clear 
from the energy and enthusiasm Joe brings to every facet of his job, 
that this has been a 45-year love affair with the learning process.
  I ask my colleagues to join with me today in commending my friend, 
Dr. Joseph Ovick, on his outstanding career and to thank him on behalf 
of the thousands of students and teachers who have been the 
beneficiaries of his work over the years. We join with his family, 
friends and colleagues in wishing him the very best as he begins his 
well-earned retirement.

                          ____________________