[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 179 (Thursday, December 10, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1758]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





  RECOGNIZING THE DEDICATION OF THE BETTY DeVANE COVINGTON LIBRARY AT 
                       DUMFRIES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 10, 2015

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the dedication 
of the ``Betty DeVane Covington Library'' at Dumfries Elementary School 
in Dumfries, Virginia. This year marks Mrs. Covington's 54th year in 
education and her 53rd year with the Prince William County Schools, 
having served as a classroom teacher, assistant principal, principal, 
and now School Board member. Mrs. Covington's tireless work has helped 
shape the minds and hearts of thousands of students, both young and 
old.
   Mrs. Covington's longevity in the community is noted by many firsts. 
She served as the principal of the Saunders Kindergarten Center, the 
first public kindergarten in Prince William County; in 1995, she became 
the first elected School Board member in Dumfries, now Potomac 
Magisterial District; and she received the inaugural Boys and Girls 
Clubs of Greater Washington/Prince William-Manassas, Educator of the 
Year Award, which was later renamed in her honor.
   With a career dating back to 1961, Mrs. Covington has worked in 
numerous elementary schools within the county. Nine of her 11 years as 
a classroom teacher were spent at Dumfries Elementary School. Three 
years were spent as an assistant principal of Dale City Elementary 
School. During her tenure, the school participated in a pilot program 
for year-round education. From 1974 to 1976, Mrs. Covington served as 
principal of the Saunders Kindergarten Center. She ended her career 
after 19 years as principal of Kilby Elementary School. That same year, 
she was elected to the Prince William County School Board. Mrs. 
Covington served as the Dumfries School Board member for one year 
before returning to Dumfries Elementary School as the appointed 
principal for six years. Upon her final retirement from education 
administration in 2005, Mrs. Covington was again elected to the Prince 
William School Board to serve three consecutive terms.
   Over the course of her career, Mrs. Covington has been recognized 
for her commitment to educating the students of Prince William County. 
She has been nominated for The Washington Post Distinguished 
Educational Leadership Award and Prince William County Principal of the 
Year. Her accolades also include receiving the Service Award from the 
School Board, Women of the Year from the Soroptimist Club, the Zontas 
Club, and Commission for Women, Minerva Award for Public Service by the 
Prince William County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, 
Inc., and the Human Rights Award from the Prince William County Human 
Rights Commission, to name just a few.
   Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Betty 
Covington for her unwavering dedication to serving the children of 
Prince William County, first in the classroom and more recently as a 
member of the School Board representing the Potomac Magisterial 
District. Mrs. Covington has been an integral and essential part of 
Prince William Public Schools through her commitment to public service 
for the betterment of our community.

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