[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 189 (Thursday, November 5, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1005-E1006]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING DONALD E. LaPLANTE FORTY-ONE YEARS SERVING DOWNEY UNIFIED 
                            SCHOOL DISTRICT

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 5, 2020

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. 
Donald E. LaPlante, a long-time resident of the City of Downey who is 
retiring from his service as a member of the Board of Education of the 
Downey Unified School District representing Trustee Area No. 4. Donald 
served on the Board since December 1979. He was elected to ten terms on 
the Board, in years 1979, 1983, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 
2011, and 2015.
  During his tenure on the Board of Education, Donald has served six 
times as president of the board; six times as vice president and six 
times as clerk. He has been a member of both the Budget and Audit 
Committees and has served on each for over 15 years.
  Mr. LaPlante has also been actively involved in school board 
organizations during his time on the Board. In 2012, he was elected by 
his colleagues in the southern part of Los Angeles County as director 
for Region 24 of the California School Boards Association. Previously, 
he served as a member of the Delegate Assembly for the California 
School Boards Association for 28 years.
  From 1997 to 1998, he served as president of the Los Angeles County 
School Trustees Association, representing all of the almost 500 school 
trustees in the county. Prior to that he served as vice president, 
secretary/treasurer

[[Page E1006]]

and as a director of the Los Angeles County School Trustees 
Association. He continues to serve as a member of the Executive Board 
as a Past President.
  Professionally, Mr. LaPlante is retired from teaching English and 
United States history for the Duarte Unified School District. He taught 
at the seventh and eighth grade level for more than twenty years. He 
received three awards from the PTSA at Northview Intermediate School in 
Duarte for his service to the school and the students, including a 
Continuing Service Award. He holds credentials for the teaching of 
English and social science and is certified to provide instruction to 
limited-English speaking students. Donald also holds a credential in 
school administration.
  A graduate of the University of Southern California with majors in 
political science and journalism, he also holds a master's degree in 
educational leadership from Point Loma Nazarene University. He did work 
for his teaching credential at California State University, Long Beach.
  Prior to becoming a teacher, Mr. LaPlante held a managerial position 
in the printing industry for over twelve years. He has lived in Downey 
for more than 55 years and is a graduate of Warren High School in 
Downey. He was honored by the Downey Unified School District in 2007 
when it named the new science building on the Warren High School Campus 
as ``Donald E. LaPlante Hall.''
  Donald E. LaPlante will officially retire in December after more than 
41 years as a member of the Board of Education of the Downey Unified 
School District.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and 
thanking Mr. Donald E. LaPlante for his many years of exemplary 
leadership and outstanding service to the education of our youth and 
their families.

                          ____________________