[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 126 (Wednesday, July 23, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E723-E724]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING DR. BARBARA NEMKO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 23, 2025

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. 
Barbara Nemko, Ph.D., on the occasion of her retirement after 28 years 
as Napa County Superintendent of Schools and a lifetime of service to 
education.
  Dr. Nemko was born in the Bronx, New York, where her journey in 
education began. She earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master's degrees 
from Queens College, and started her career as a second-grade teacher 
in New York City. Her academic work continued at the University of 
California, Berkeley, where she earned her Ph.D. in Reading and 
Evaluation of School Programs in 1981, a milestone that also began her 
love affair with California.
  After joining the Napa County Office of Education in 1991, Dr. Nemko 
was appointed as the Napa County Superintendent of Schools in 1997, and 
later elected to the position in 1998. Dr. Nemko held this role for an 
unprecedented 28 years. At the time of her retirement, Dr. Nemko was 
the longest-serving county superintendent in office in our state. Her 
tenure transformed Napa County's education system, establishing the 
Office of Education as a regional leader in early learning, special 
education, career technical education, mental health services, and 
professional development for educators.
  Dr. Nemko was known for her forward-thinking leadership, particularly 
in advancing educational technology. She was an early advocate for 
closing the digital divide, securing technology and internet access for 
thousands of students in Napa County. She pioneered programs like the 
Superintendent's Fund to provide children with eyeglasses, orthotics, 
and other critical needs not covered by existing budgets.
  Her leadership has extended beyond the classroom. Dr. Nemko served on 
the Community Corrections Board and Juvenile Justice Committee for her 
entire tenure as Superintendent, completed Leadership Napa Valley in 
1999, and later joined its Board of Directors. She also served as 
President of the Rotary Club of Napa from 2013 to 2014. In recognition 
of her advocacy, she was named Woman of the Year for the 7th Assembly 
District by the California Legislature in 2009, received the Public 
Policy Advocate Award from the International Society for Technology in 
Education in 2014, and earned the Platinum Disk Award from Computer 
Using Educators in 2019.
  Beyond her professional accomplishments, Dr. Nemko is deeply 
committed to her family

[[Page E724]]

and the arts. She has performed in numerous community theater 
productions with Dreamweavers, Lucky Penny, and Valley Players. She is 
married to Dr. Marty Nemko, an accomplished career coach, author, and 
writer. Together they raised their daughter, Amy Zubrensky, who served 
as a researcher in the Clinton White House, earned her law degree from 
Yale, and now serves as an Assistant U.S. Attorney at the U.S. 
Department of Justice. Dr. Nemko and her husband are the proud 
grandparents of Lea and Sara Zubrensky.
  Mr. Speaker, for nearly three decades, Dr. Barbara Nemko has 
dedicated herself to strengthening Napa County's education system and 
enriching her community. It is fitting and proper that we recognize her 
extraordinary career, leadership, and service here today.

                          ____________________