[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 22, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1104]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING LUCILLE LOVETTE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 22, 2015

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
driven and ambitious woman, Ms. Lucille Lovette. Lucille has shown what 
can be done through hard work, dedication and a desire to serve others.
  Lucille Lovette, a resident of Anguilla, Mississippi, is the ninth of 
15 siblings born into a family who believed in hard work and didn't 
believe in handouts.
  Lovette earned a bachelor of science in elementary education degree 
from Mississippi Valley State University at Itta Bena, followed by a 
masters degree in educational leadership and supervision and a 
specialist degree in educational leadership and supervision, both from 
Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi.
  She began her career as an office manager in 1978 for the South Delta 
School District (formerly known as Anguilla Line Consolidated School 
District) under the direction of a great superintendent who encouraged 
her to go a little further. Lovette was employed by the South Delta 
School District from 1978-2009, serving as curriculum director, federal 
programs director and principal. During her time as principal, she led 
an elementary school with a starting enrollment of some 740 students 
and 90 faculty members. During her tenure, the students' grade level 
reading scores on state assessments increased more than 38.4 percent 
and math score on state assessment increased more than 70 percent. The 
school achieved an Exemplary and High Performing School rating. Also 
while as principal the South Delta Elementary School received the Torch 
Award granted by the Mississippi Department of Education.
  In 1994 she was one of 13 teachers who were chosen by the state of 
Mississippi for a six week study with NASA.
  Prior to serving as principal of South Delta Elementary School, 
Lovette worked as educational technologist as South Delta Middle 
School, and has served as an adult education teacher at Mississippi 
Delta Community College in Moorhead.
  From 2009-2010 Lovette served as an educational leadership consultant 
at Dollarway Middle School in Pine Bluff, Arkansas and Eliza Miller 
Junior High School in Helena Arkansas. She was employed as school 
improvement coordinator with the Indianola School district from 2010 
until 2011 and from 2011 until 2013; she served as educational 
leadership consultant for the Jackson Public School District and the 
Senatobia Public School District.
  Among the awards she has garnered during her years in education are: 
the Mississippi School Board Association's School Improvement Beacon 
Award in 2009; the Mississippi Success for All School Reading Award in 
2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007; the South Delta School District 
Administrator of the Year Award in 2007; Delta State University 
Educational Leadership Sabbatical in 2001; Mississippi Teacher of the 
Year State Finalist; Mississippi Second Congressional District Teacher 
of the Year in 2000; and South Delta Middle School and School District 
Teacher of the Year in 1998 and 2000.
  Lovette joined the Yazoo City Municipal School District in 2013, 
where she served as assistant superintendent and as federal programs 
director. In February 2015, the Yazoo City Municipal School District 
School Board named Lucille Lovette the district's interim 
superintendent.
  Lucille says, ``Service is the rent we pay for being allowed to live 
on this earth. We're supposed to give back, so that's key for me.''
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Ms. 
Lucille Lovette for her passion and dedication to educate our youth and 
desire to make a difference in the lives of others.

                          ____________________