[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 92 (Monday, June 3, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E698-E699]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF DAVID REESE, PRINCIPAL OF BAKERSFIELD HIGH SCHOOL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KEVIN McCARTHY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, June 3, 2019

  Mr. McCARTHY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor David Reese, an 
educator and principal at Bakersfield High School, who will be retiring 
this August after 35 years of service to the students, parents, and 
teachers in Bakersfield, California, which I represent.
  David was born in Dodge City, Kansas in 1958 and moved to Bakersfield 
with his family in 1965. David graduated from Foothill High School and 
earned several accolades as part of the Foothill High School basketball 
team, including winning the California State Boys Basketball 
Championship in 1976 when he was a senior. David stayed in our 
community for college, earning his Bachelor's degree from California 
State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) and then obtaining his teaching 
credential in 1984. David returned to Foothill as a teacher and coached 
the boys basketball team, guiding the team to a championship in 1988. 
In

[[Page E699]]

1992, David became the Dean of Students at Foothill High School, a 
position where he continued to excel at serving the needs of his 
students. He quickly rose through the ranks at Kern High School 
District--the largest 9th through 12th grade school district in the 
State of California--and became Principal of Bakersfield High School 
(BHS) in 1999.
  As the BHS principal, David oversaw the largest and oldest high 
school in the community, which has a student body of almost 3,000 
students. A principled and passionate educator, David made it his top 
priority to raise graduation rates and ensure his students were 
prepared for college. During his tenure at BHS, he prioritized 
innovative academic programs, making the school the first to start 
Project Lead the Way, an academic program designed to foster student 
interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) 
fields through hands-on experience and visiting local STEM-related 
businesses around the community. I know that he is proud of the 
multiple national championships that BHS students won in Virtual 
Business, a competition where students learn how to start, operate, and 
market a new business. In addition, David helped promote the Earl 
Warren Cup, a civics competition for government students designed to 
test their knowledge of American history and politics.
  An avid supporter of the BHS Drillers athletic program, David can 
often be seen cheering on student athletes at basketball, baseball, 
football, softball, soccer, and volleyball games, golf, tennis, and 
wrestling matches, and track & field, cross country, and swimming meets 
in our community and at state championship tournaments. In recognition 
of all his work at BHS and for our community, CSUB inducted David into 
its Alumni Hall of Fame in 2017. And, as this year's BHS seniors 
graduate, David will have presided over 19 graduation ceremonies, 
having the honor of personally handing out diplomas to over 13,000 
students.
  On behalf of the 23rd Congressional District of California and the 
thousands of students he helped educate during his time at Foothill 
High School and Bakersfield High School, I want to thank David for his 
work and dedication in molding the minds of our community's next 
generation of leaders, helping them to acquire the skills and education 
during one of the most important and formative times of their lives. I 
also want to thank his wife Abby, his daughter Becky, and his sons 
Tyler David and Tyler Thomas, for sharing David with us in the 
community, including the many late nights and early mornings at work.
  While it may be bittersweet for David to leave the school that he so 
loves, I am sure that he is looking forward to the next chapter of life 
and spending more time with his wife and family. I know that David will 
never leave the BHS community because, as the saying goes, ``Once a 
Driller, always a Driller.''

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