[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 61 (Monday, April 16, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E466-E467]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IN RECOGNITION OF SALLY ANNE CONVIRS JAMES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 16, 2018

  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Sally Anne Convirs James who 
is receiving the 2018 Community Care Award from the Associated Parents' 
Group of Hillsborough for her exemplary involvement in the school 
district and the community at large.
  Sally started as a parent volunteer in the classroom and at events 
while her children attended South School and Crocker Middle School and 
became the librarian at South in 2008. Sally's creativity is boundless 
She developed several library programs and educational practices that 
bring classroom learning to life and instill a love of reading in all 
South students. South's Reading Tiger, her best-known literacy program, 
earned the California Gold Ribbon Award in 2016. Sally also created the 
Summer Reading Challenge and the Long-Term Reading Challenge and she 
continues the Birthday Book Club tradition.
  Sally is a staunch advocate of hands-on learning. She walks students 
through history in programs such as Colonial Day, A Walk Through the 
American Revolution, Gold Rush Day or Ohlone Day. She has brought 
numerous authors to the library and works closely with parents and 
teachers to come up with the most fun and beneficial activities for her 
students. She also maintains the website and social media pages. Sally 
is truly a multitalented gem.
  Before becoming the librarian, Sally served as a member of the 
Citizen's Oversight Committee and on the Board of Directors of the 
Hillsborough Little League. She was an inaugural member of the school 
district's HTV team and started a Girl Scout troop.
  In addition to her library responsibilities, Sally is passionate 
about the environment and green initiatives. She helped set up trash 
sorting facilities and has participated in creek clean ups. She also 
helped establish a partnership between South and Samaritan House which 
teaches students about public service and social justice. Nurturing 
students to become our leaders of tomorrow, Sally helped revamp the 
student council format and process. Sally is all about helping others--
she is

[[Page E467]]

an amazing teacher, librarian, listener and mentor. Her hard work, 
which she always makes look effortless, has earned her the admiration 
and adoration of her students, their parents and her colleagues.
  Originally from Los Angeles, Sally earned her BA in Psychology in 
1984 and her JD in 1987 from UCLA. In 2008, she received a teaching 
credential from Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont and in 2012, 
she received a teacher librarian services credential from Fresno 
Pacific University.
  Sally and Robert Michael James, her husband for 24 years, have three 
children; Katharine, Philip and Henry.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the members of the House of Representatives to 
rise with me to recognize a remarkable community leader, teacher and 
human being. Many at South School fittingly say that as the library has 
become the core of South School, Sally has become its heart. The town 
of Hillsborough is truly fortunate to call Sally James one of their 
own.

                          ____________________