[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 18 (Wednesday, January 31, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E102-E103]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNIZING DR. LAURIE DENT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MARILYN STRICKLAND

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 31, 2024

  Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and 
congratulate Dr. Laurie Dent, a standout educator in our South Sound 
community who was recently named the 2024 Superintendent of the Year by 
the Washington Association of School Administrators.
  As Sumner-Bonney Lake School District's Superintendent since 2016, 
Dr. Dent has not only shepherded school communities through numerous 
challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but has also transformed 
schools' and individual students' performance trajectories through and 
in spite of pandemic-related challenges. Since the start of her tenure 
as Superintendent, the district's graduation rate has risen from 84 
percent in 2016 to 92.1 percent in 2023, an achievement that her 
colleagues attribute to her staunch commitment to her ``100% Graduation 
Campaign.'' Beyond the numbers, Dr. Dent's commitment to this campaign 
has undoubtedly strengthened schools, enriched students, and deepened 
community connections.
  I commend Dr. Dent for being a standard-bearer in our state for what 
excellence in education is and should be, and I am honored to

[[Page E103]]

spotlight her efforts in empowering local education professionals and 
supporting students' success in our South Sound community.

                          ____________________