[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 99 (Thursday, June 11, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E567]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING THE RETIREMENT OF TED ALEJANDRE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PETE AGUILAR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 11, 2026

  Mr. AGUILAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the remarkable career 
of an outstanding public servant and dedicated educator, Ted Alejandre, 
the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools. As he announces 
his retirement after nearly four decades of service to the youth and 
families of California's Inland Empire, it is appropriate that we 
recognize his extraordinary contributions.
  Ted's commitment to his country and his community has been a lifelong 
pursuit. A veteran of the United States Air Force, he achieved the rank 
of Lieutenant Colonel, serving with the Reserve's 701st Combat 
Operations Squadron. This dedication to service, duty, and excellence 
naturally transitioned into his second calling: public education.
  Over the course of his nearly 40-year career in the San Bernardino 
County school system, Mr. Alejandre has touched nearly every facet of 
the education process. He has served as a teacher, a vice principal, a 
principal and an Assistant Superintendent of Business Services before 
being elected as the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools in 
2014.
  During his time at the helm, Ted oversaw operations for over 400,000 
K-12 students across the county. He championed innovative, regional 
programs that expanded early literacy, pioneered digital learning to 
prepare students for the 21st-century workforce and fought tirelessly 
to ensure that every child, regardless of background, has a fair shot 
at success.
  Furthermore, as a veteran himself, Ted spearheaded the Operation 
Recognition Veterans Diploma Project in San Bernardino County. This 
incredible initiative posthumously and retroactively awarded high 
school diplomas to local veterans who were forced to leave school to 
serve our Nation during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam 
War. This act of deep respect and gratitude exemplifies the type of 
leader Ted is: empathetic, grounded, and always looking to uplift those 
around him.
  As a veteran and an educator, Ted understands the tremendous 
importance of supporting Inland Empire high school students who want to 
serve our country. Serving as a member of my office's Service Academy 
Board and later becoming the Board President, Ted helped nominate 
exemplary young men and women from throughout our region for the 
prestigious honor of attending a United States Military Academy.
  Mr. Speaker, Ted Alejandre leaves behind an educational system that 
is stronger, more equitable, and deeply responsive to the needs of our 
diverse communities. While his steady, visionary leadership as County 
Superintendent will be deeply missed, his impact on the Inland Empire 
will be felt for generations to come.
  I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in 
congratulating Ted Alejandre on a stellar career in education and the 
military, and to thank him for a lifetime of unwavering dedication to 
the Inland Empire and our great Nation. I wish him, his family, and his 
loved ones all the best in his well-deserved retirement.

                          ____________________