[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 150 (Wednesday, December 10, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1770]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING MS. SHEILA JORDAN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 10, 2014

  Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
extraordinary career of Ms. Sheila Jordan on the occasion of her 
retirement. Ms. Jordan is retiring after serving for fifteen years as 
the Alameda County Superintendent of Schools.
  A proud native of the Bronx, Ms. Jordan graduated from Rutgers 
University with a B.A. in English. She went on to get her M.A. in 
Special Education from San Francisco State University, and is the 
holder of a lifetime teaching credential, a credential for teaching the 
learning handicapped, an Administrative Credential from California 
State University East Bay, and a Certificate in Executive Management 
from the Graduate School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley.
  Prior to her service as Superintendent of Schools, Ms. Jordan served 
on the Oakland City Council and the Oakland Unified School District 
Board of Education, and was a teacher for 20 years.
  During her time as Superintendent of Schools for Alameda County, Ms. 
Jordan has overseen the implementation of numerous programs designed to 
promote civic engagement and service, environmental education, arts and 
technology integration, math, language arts, and science. Her 
leadership has clarified and solidified the role of county offices of 
education and influenced new statewide policies. Her efforts to create 
a regional model have deepened the ties and accountability between 
school districts and county offices and inspired student success. For 
instance, she helped to forge a closer alliance with Chabot Space & 
Science Center's education department in order to provide county and 
regional schools with training and support of STEM and STEAM 
opportunities.
  Ms. Jordan has also served in numerous community service positions, 
including the Executive Committee of the Economic Development Alliance 
for Business; and the boards of the Chabot Space & Science Center, the 
Workforce Investment Board, United Way, and the Interagency Children's 
Policy Council. She is also a former member of the Board of Directors 
of the East Bay Leadership Foundation, a past co-chair of the Alameda 
County Superior Court Children's Waiting Room Project, and a former 
Fellow of the Bay Area Writing Project.
  Among other honors, Ms. Jordan has received the Outstanding Educator 
of the Year Award from the Peralta Presidential Council of the Alpha 
Delta Kappa educational sorority, the Educator of Excellence Award from 
Hispanos Saludos, the Programs of Excellence Award from the Association 
of Contra Costa County Administrators, and has been named Alumnus of 
the Year by California State University Hayward.
  On behalf of the residents of California's 13th Congressional 
District, Ms. Sheila Jordan, I salute you. I thank you for a lifetime 
of service and congratulate you on your many achievements. I wish you 
and your loved ones the very best as you transition to this exciting 
new chapter of life.

                          ____________________