[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 24, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E394]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN HONOR OF DR. BARRY SHEPHERD'S CAREER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RICHARD HUDSON

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 24, 2015

  Mr. HUDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Barry Shepherd for 
his faithful service as the Superintendent of the Cabarrus County 
School system in the 8th Congressional District of North Carolina.
   When Dr. Shepherd became Superintendent in 2008, he brought a unique 
vision that transformed Cabarrus County Schools during many challenging 
years. In spite of reductions in funding, Dr. Shepherd continually 
emphasized the value of people and his students.
   As a result of this approach, students from Cabarrus County Schools 
are scoring higher on end-of-year assessments, graduation rates have 
increased, and the school system was able to open eight new schools 
during his tenure.
   Today, Cabarrus County Schools boast some of the most unique 
learning experiences offered in the country. Specifically, Cabarrus 
County Schools have a partnership with the Center for International 
Understanding at the University of North Carolina called Confucius 
Classrooms. This program features a reciprocal agreement where teachers 
and administrators from Cabarrus County visit schools in China to fine 
tune best practices in education. As part of this program, Chinese 
educators come to Cabarrus County Schools to learn from their successes 
as well.
   Dr. Shepherd is a native of Wilkes County, North Carolina, and 
received a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education and a Master's Degree 
in Educational Leadership from Appalachian State University in Boone, 
North Carolina. He went on to receive his Doctoral Degree in Education 
from Columbia University in New York.
   Dr. Shepherd served as Superintendent of Elkin City Schools and as 
Assistant Superintendent in the Mooresville Graded School District 
before arriving in Cabarrus County. He also held various administrative 
positions in the Iredell-Statesville Schools, Lexington City Schools, 
and Thomasville City Schools.
   It is truly an honor to extend these remarks congratulating Dr. 
Shepherd on his retirement and to thank him for his esteemed service to 
our local community as a visionary educator.

                          ____________________