[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 95 (Thursday, June 6, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E721-E722]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       IN HONOR OF KAREN HANRAHAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 6, 2019

  Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Ms. Hanrahan, the retiring 
Head of School at Mercy High School Burlingame. Ms. Hanrahan has been a 
strong leader of this school for the past six years and is beloved on 
campus. I deeply admire her and feel privileged to call her a great 
friend.
  During her time at Mercy, the school has benefitted greatly through 
her leadership. Mercy is a school where girls are taught to become 
leaders. In Ms. Hanrahan, they have a

[[Page E722]]

tremendous role model. When she arrived, the school's enrollment was 
declining. She reversed the trend. Her interactions with students are a 
joy to observe. Smiles break out, sometimes hugs ensue, but students 
also know that she has high standards. Ms. Hanrahan stresses the belief 
of the Sisters of Mercy that every student is capable of improving 
herself and that every student should give back to the community. She 
imbues the value of social justice in the students through hands-on 
experiences. For example, a few years ago several Mercy girls joined me 
and a group of Rosie the Riveters at a rally to ratify the Equal Rights 
Amendment.
  While at Mercy, the budget has been placed on sound footing. She's 
now raising funds for a $12 million gymnasium and activities center, 
the first building on campus where all students will be able to 
assemble at once. In just eight months, $2.3 million has been pledged. 
She once calmly explained to my staff that it would certainly require 
work to raise $12 million but that it was doable, and then briefly 
explained the nuts and bolts of raising this extraordinary sum. She is 
demonstrating great leadership even now as she has been working over 
many months to train her replacement. It is apparent that the 
transition will go smoothly.
  She emphasized to parents that science and technology play a big role 
in Mercy's curriculum, while also stressing the importance of a broad 
education. Mercy offers 37 AP courses ranging from biology to calculus 
to history and even studio art in 3D. There are 18 honors courses in 
sciences and the humanities. Ms. Hanrahan works with department heads 
to ensure that Mercy's curriculum offers a breadth of study that allows 
each student to reach her fullest potential. As an enthusiastic sports 
fan, she celebrates when Mercy's teams excel, as they often do. As the 
Head of School, Ms. Hanrahan is remarkably down to earth and models for 
the students that no one should take him or herself too seriously. 
During Mercy week, she dyed a streak of her hair royal blue, one of the 
school colors.
  Karen Hanrahan began her career as the Director of Development at yet 
another Catholic school for girls, Cornelia Connelly School in Anaheim, 
California. As she would in several other later positions, Ms. Hanrahan 
raised funds to bring facilities up to date and to close budget 
deficits. For example, at Bishop Hendricken High School in Warwick, 
Rhode Island, she supervised admissions and alumnae, and was 
responsible for the annual fund and handled all communications. She 
then moved on to numerous other accomplishments in Catholic schools, 
and at one private school, throughout the country.
  However, it was in Baltimore that she met her pre-Mercy community and 
education challenges that would prepare her for her years at Mercy. In 
Baltimore, she became the Executive Director of the Baltimore City 
Police Memorial Fund. She spent two years raising funds to ensure that 
fallen officers would never be forgotten. She then became the President 
and CEO of two Catholic schools, one a co-ed pre-K to 8th and the other 
an all-girls high school.
  At Seton Keough High School and Holy Angels Catholic School, Ms. 
Hanrahan was the Energizer Bunny who did it all. She was involved in 
marketing, communications, and fundraising. She supervised all 
finances, developed budgets and strategic plans, and was the face of 
the school in the community. She reduced the deficit of the two schools 
by 50 percent and reinvigorated the curriculum. She did everything 
imaginable to give the students of these two schools an outstanding 
education.
  As Ms. Hanrahan came onboard from Baltimore, she knew that Mercy 
Burlingame also needed help. Ever the optimist, she dove right in, and 
she delivered through extraordinary self-discipline and an engaging 
personal style.
  Today, the banner on the school's website says, ``Be known. Be 
Challenged. Be Transformed.'' This could describe Ms. Hanrahan. She's 
known, been challenged, and has transformed the school into a stronger 
and better Mercy. She deserves a rest, but it would be unwise to call 
it a retirement because leaders like Ms. Hanrahan neither retire nor 
fade away. They listen closely to the next great calling, and then 
patiently re-engage in the exciting enterprise of creating a better 
tomorrow. We all await the day when we learn that Ms. Hanrahan has 
again set her sights upon a goal because it will likely be in service 
to a cause that enriches both us and our nation.

                          ____________________