[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 198 (Monday, November 15, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1236-E1237]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING MICHAEL HULSIZER FOR HIS SERVICE TO KERN COUNTY AND THE STATE 
                             OF CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KEVIN McCARTHY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 15, 2021

  Mr. McCARTHY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Michael Hulsizer, 
a constituent, friend, educator, and dedicated public servant. 
Throughout his illustrious career, Michael has been a tireless advocate 
for students throughout Kern County and influential in shaping the 
policies that impact our children, teachers, and our families. After 
dedicating nearly 45 years of service to Kern County, Michael will be 
retiring from his position of Chief Deputy for Governmental Affairs for 
the Kern County Superintendent of Schools next month.
  Michael began his career in education as a teacher at Desert High 
School, located in Eastern Kern County and part of the Muroc Joint 
Unified School District. While at Desert High, he served as teacher 
sponsor of the school's Mock Trial team, eventually helping to lead the 
1982-83 team to win the California State Mock Trial Championship. His 
leadership at Desert High and passion for providing students with the 
best possible academic and extracurricular opportunities led him to the 
Kern County Superintendent of Schools' Curriculum and Accountability 
Division, as a History and Social Science Consultant, in 1985. In this 
role, Michael helped to implement the highly regarded ``We The People: 
The Citizen and the Constitution'' annual competition, during which 
teams of high school students throughout Kern County put their 
knowledge of the U.S. Constitution to the test, and developed the Kern 
County History Day program, which continues to be a highly popular 
event among Kern County students of all ages.
  In the early 1990s, Michael played a leadership role, on behalf of 
the Kern County Superintendent of Schools, in the creation of the Kern 
County Network for Children, a collaborative network of community-based 
organizations and stakeholders that aims to support Kern County's most 
vulnerable students. Nearly 30 years later, the Kern County Network for 
Children continues to serve families and at-risk youth through its 
collaborative model and system of family resource centers, thanks 
largely to Michael's leadership. In 2005, Michael brought his passion 
for Kern County students and civics education to our nation's capital 
by participating in the third annual Congressional Conference on Civic 
Education, hosted by the joint leadership of the United States 
Congress.
  During his tenure as Chief Deputy for Governmental Affairs for the 
Kern County Superintendent of Schools, Michael had a hand in crafting 
education policy at the state and local levels and served as the 
primary liaison on federal education issues. He was particularly 
instrumental in the adoption and implementation of the Local Control 
Funding Formula in the State of California, and most recently helped to 
guide Kern County schools through the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic 
by ensuring that they received the federal and state relief funds 
necessary to continue to educate students throughout Kern County.
  I have had the privilege of working with Michael on issues facing 
students in our community since my time in the California State 
Assembly and have consistently sought out his opinion and guidance over 
the years. Michael is respected by elected officials, educators, and 
students alike for his deep knowledge of education policy, and has left 
an indelible impact in our schools, community, and the State of 
California. While he will no longer be with the Kern County 
Superintendent of Schools, I have no doubt he will continue to champion 
causes important to him and our students. On

[[Page E1237]]

behalf of the 23rd Congressional District of California, I wish him 
well in his retirement as he enters this new chapter in life.

                          ____________________