[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 25, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E208]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING DR. GUSTAVO BALDERAS OF EUGENE, NATIONAL SUPERINTENDENT OF THE 
                                  YEAR

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. PETER A. DeFAZIO

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 25, 2020

  Mr. DeFAZIO. Madam Speaker, I am proud to announce my constituent, 
Dr. Gustavo Balderas, superintendent of Eugene School District 4J, was 
named Superintendent of the Year by the American Association of School 
Administrators. Dr. Balderas now makes three Oregon superintendents 
that have won the prestigious award, two of which hail from Oregon's 
Fourth Congressional District.
  Education has long been a passion for Dr. Balderas. He is the proud 
son of migrant parents from Piedras Negras, Cohauila Mexico--who, like 
many migrants, sought a better life for their family in the United 
States. His parents saw getting an education as a path forward for 
their son and pushed him to follow this track.
  Dr. Balderas is an Oregonian through and through--beginning his 
education in the Nyssa School District and Treasure Valley Community 
College in Eastern Oregon, earning a bachelor's degree from Western 
Oregon University and then a master's degree from Portland State 
University, and, finally, receiving his doctorate from the University 
of Oregon. He has spent nearly all his 30-year career in Oregon.
  I am not surprised the American Association of School Administrators 
bestowed their distinguished award to Dr. Balderas. He is well-known 
and well-respected throughout the state for his leadership in education 
equity. Dr. Balderas is committed to mentoring and providing counsel 
and direction to the future leaders of our state's school districts.
  He has made great strides in increasing the diversity of Eugene 4J's 
educator workforce. Under his leadership, 30 percent of all district 
administrators, including 39 percent of school principals, are people 
of color, more accurately reflecting the district's 31 percent 
enrollment among students of color.
  He has also partnered with community organizations to combat youth 
and family homelessness in our district.
  In accepting his award, Dr. Balderas said: ``This is a `we' award, 
not a `me' award''--accepting the award on behalf of his community 
rather than himself. I am thrilled that Eugene 4J has such a dedicated, 
yet modest, leader who recognizes the important work educators 
contribute towards making our public schools exceptional. In fact, it 
was the educators in his life that inspired him to follow this path. 
They made him a better student and the role model he is today.
  Dr. Balderas' talents were cultivated in Oregon's public schools, and 
today our community is reaping the rewards from his capacity, 
capability, and commitment. I am honored to have an educator of Dr. 
Balderas' caliber serve our community, and I thank him for the 
outstanding work he has done and will continue to do on behalf of the 
students of Eugene 4J and all of public education.

                          ____________________