[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 5 (Thursday, January 9, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S123]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO CALVIN BAKER

 Ms. McSALLY. Mr. President, in April of 1981, President George 
H.W. Bush said ``think about every problem, every challenge, we face. 
The solution to each starts with education.'' These words were true 
then, and they are just as true today. Education is the bedrock of our 
society, and it allows our country to advance.
  It is difficult to think of someone who exemplifies President Bush's 
words more than Vail School District Superintendent Calvin Baker. I 
have been privileged to get to know Cal and his wife Nancy over the 
last many years. I also live in Vail School District--VSD--so I have 
seen the impact he has made in our community firsthand.
  Cal moved back to Arizona in 1987 to become the principal of the only 
school in the Vail School District, serving 500 students. He was 
appointed as the superintendent of the district in 1988 and has been at 
the helm ever since. During his nearly 33 years of service to students 
and families in our community, Cal led the growth to now 22 schools 
serving over 14,000 students. The growth was not by accident. Families 
want to move to VSD so their kids can experience the world-class 
educational experience thanks to Cal's extraordinary leadership and 
success.
  As with any organization, leadership matters, and for effective 
leadership, character matters. Calvin Baker sets the example of 
integrity, selfless service, and humility for all to follow. He is 
truly a good man.
  In his tenure, Cal built an impressive team of educators and support 
staff and created a culture of innovation, parent involvement, and 
dedication to students. Cal's vision for success was based on the 
principle that education is a community effort. He has been the glue 
that kept our growing and diverse community together united with a 
common goal of educational excellence. In a recent letter Cal sent to 
parents in his district, he said, ``I encourage each of you to invest 
deeply in your child's education and our local schools. It is that 
investment that is the `secret sauce' of Vail's success.''
  Calvin Baker is a trailblazer on innovation in education for so many 
other districts in the State and country to follow. Empire High School 
was the first school in the United States to eliminate textbooks in 
favor of computers. He pioneered the Beyond Textbooks program that 
combines Vail's successful instructional methodology with an online 
delivery system. Cal didn't just want Vail students to benefit from 
this effective approach. Now, 115 school districts across Arizona and 
six other States use this program, some of which have become top 
performing districts in their States.
  Baker's creative and visionary leadership didn't stop there. When 
enrollment in the district surpassed capacity, he developed a year-
round track system to ensure educational standards were high while new 
infrastructure was planned and built. Under his leadership, Vail 
schools are consistently labeled as ``A+'' by the Arizona Department of 
Education.
  Calvin Baker's legacy is immense and immeasurable. It will continue 
on with the thousands of children in a generation who received an 
amazing education in Vail School District under his leadership, 
propelling them on a path of opportunity for their futures. Cal is the 
longest serving superintendent of any school district in Arizona and 
has left an indelible mark on education for Arizona and the country. 
Appropriately, Pima County passed a resolution naming December 20 as 
Calvin Baker Appreciation Day, an honor in which Cal is more than 
deserving.
  Last year, Cal confronted another challenge when he was diagnosed 
with multiple myeloma. His example of faith, grit, and courage as he 
faced the diagnosis and treatment continues to be an inspiration to us 
all.
  I want to personally thank Cal for his service and wish him, Nancy, 
and their whole family all the best in his much-deserved 
retirement.

                          ____________________