[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 2 (Friday, January 4, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E11]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF KAREN SAKATA

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                          HON. MARK DeSAULNIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 4, 2019

  Mr. DeSaulnier. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Karen Sakata 
for her dedicated and passionate service to our community.
  A third generation Japanese-American, Karen was born in San Francisco 
and currently lives in Alamo with her husband, Shima. Karen graduated 
from the University of California Berkeley with a Bachelor's degree in 
psychology and received a Master's degree in speech pathology from San 
Jose State University.
  Karen has proudly worked in the education field for the past 44 
years, including 15 years in general education and 26 years in special 
education. Karen has worked as both an administrator and an educator, 
holding positions such as Speech Language Pathologist, Resource 
Specialist-Auditory Processing, Early Childhood Specialist, Program 
Administrator, Elementary Principal, Associate Superintendent, and 
Deputy Superintendent.
  In 2014, Karen was elected to serve as Contra Costa Superintendent of 
Schools. Over the past four years, she created programs for students 
with disabilities and students who are incarcerated or expelled. Her 
``Attendance Awareness Campaign'' strove to improve academic success by 
fighting chronic absence. Karen also initiated the creation of 
resources to help school administrators communicate with employees, 
parents, and students about inclusivity and respect.
  Karen's work as Superintendent was in service of her goal to find and 
build upon the strengths of each individual child. For the past four 
years, she has been a strong and inspiring leader for 177,000 public 
school students and 18 school districts in Contra Costa County. Karen 
Sakata has left a positive impact on Contra Costa County's public 
school system, its students, and the community at large. I am thankful 
for Karen's service and friendship, and I wish her the best in her 
future endeavors.

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