[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 9, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E16]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        REMEMBERING STEVE PHELPS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 9, 2018

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. Steve 
Phelps, a life-long educator and administrator who dedicated his career 
to improving opportunities for students of all backgrounds throughout 
the Bay Area. Dr. Phelps died on December 26th following complications 
from heart surgery.
  Steve Phelps was born on June 9th, 1944 in Los Angeles, but grew up 
in Oakland. He graduated from San Francisco State University and the 
University of San Francisco, and received his doctorate in educational 
leadership--a subject which he would put to great use throughout his 
career.
  Dr. Phelps began his teaching career in San Francisco. In 1972 he 
started as a social sciences teacher and coach at St. Ignatius, a 
private Catholic high school in the Sunset District. He quickly made 
his mark by working to ensure that students from throughout San 
Francisco could take advantage of the benefits of St. Ignatius' high 
quality education.
  In 1973, Dr. Phelps started SI Uplift, a program aimed at improving 
the diversity of the student body at St. Ignatius. His efforts to 
improve diversity including outreach to other elementary schools to 
encourage minority students to consider St. Ignatius, and he also 
served as the moderators of the Black Student Union and the Asian 
Students Coalition.
  While at St. Ignatius, Dr. Phelps also served as the head of the 
school's professional development department; ensuring that teachers 
were able to attain credentials and advanced degrees in order to 
provide better outcomes for their students.
  In 2005, Dr. Phelps returned home to Oakland when he took the helm as 
President of Bishop O'Dowd High School. As president, Dr. Phelps helped 
improve the school's fundraising record, which enabled O'Dowd to fund 
the renovation of classrooms, the construction of the Center for 
Environmental Studies, and to initiate a program to provide all 
students with laptops--the first of its kind at the time in the Bay 
Area.
  Dr. Phelps' leadership also expanded much needed financial aid for 
students, helping to ensure that cost was not a barrier for families 
who wanted their children to receive the benefits of a Bishop O'Dowd 
education.
  Throughout his life, Dr. Phelps demonstrated an unwavering commitment 
to improving the lives of the thousands of students in the Bay Area. 
His work helped strengthen two schools, but his legacy will be the 
impact that he had on the lives of his students, and all that they are 
able to achieve through the support that he provided them.
  On behalf of California's 13th Congressional District, I'd like to 
thank Dr. Phelps for his exceptional and distinguished career, and 
honor his life of service to our district. I send my sincere 
condolences to his wife, Susan, his children Amy and Chris, and his 
entire extended family.

                          ____________________