[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 23, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E601]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING THE CAREER OF DR. JOSEPH MACARY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 23, 2026

  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and commend the 
service of a lifelong educator, Dr. Joseph Macary. He has served as the 
Superintendent of Vernon Public Schools for eleven years, where he 
successfully fostered an environment where students from preschool to 
12th grade can succeed. This June, Dr. Macary's tenure will come to an 
end as he prepares to take on a new role as superintendent of 
Middletown Public Schools. His talented, energetic leadership, and 
commitment to community deserves the attention of the house in the 
permanent Congressional Record which I am pleased to share.
  Dr. Macary was born in Waterbury, Connecticut to Lebanese-American 
parents who encouraged him to value and pursue the highest levels of 
educational excellence. Dr. Macary graduated from the University of 
Connecticut with a bachelor's in political science and a minor in 
economics. He later earned a master's in teaching from Quinnipiac 
College, a sixth-year degree in Educational Leadership from Southern 
Connecticut State University, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership 
from the University of Connecticut.
  Dr. Macary began his career in the classroom at Crosby High School in 
Waterbury teaching social studies, serving as department chair, and as 
well as Athletic Director. He was recognized as Educator of the Year in 
2014 by the Greater Waterbury Boys & Girls Club. He later transitioned 
to the administrative team at Wolcott Public Schools where he rose in 
the ranks to the position of Assistant Superintendent.
  In 2015, Dr. Macary brought his talents to the Second Congressional 
District and stepped into the role of Superintendent of Vernon Public 
Schools. Under Dr. Macary's leadership, Vernon Public Schools reached 
new heights. He ushered innovations into educational material and 
Vernon students responded by scoring standardized exam results well 
above state averages. During the pandemic, Dr. Macary ensured that the 
town's $4 million share of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding was 
directed to keep schools open and ensure learning goals for students 
were met. On his watch, in 2020 Vernon's Northeast School was named 
National Blue Ribbon School, as was the Skinner Road School in 2023. In 
2025, Vernon ranked first of 36 Alliance Districts in Connecticut and 
furthermore was the only Connecticut school system honored as a DALI 
(District Administration Leadership Institute) District of Distinction.
  Dr. Macary has earned much recognition for his professional 
accomplishments while leading Vernon Public Schools. He was named 
Outstanding Superintendent in 2023 by the University of Connecticut's 
NEAG School Alumni Board and Superintendent of the Year by the 
Connecticut Association of Schools Superintendents. Dr. Macary has also 
served as Co-President of the Hartford Area Superintendent's 
Association and as mentor for the University of Connecticut Neag School 
of Education Executive Leadership Program. He was recently appointed by 
Governor Lamont to the Blue-Ribbon Commission on K-12 Education Funding 
and Accountability.
  Mr. Speaker, as the Member serving the Second District of 
Connecticut, and a member of the U.S. House Education and Workforce 
Committee, and as a resident of Vernon, I have had the pleasure to 
visit all the town's schools with Dr. Macary, and seeing first hand his 
benign influence on the children of my neighbors and constituents who 
attend Vernon Public Schools. His personal interaction with students 
was joyful and authentic, which they clearly appreciated. On behalf of 
the U.S. House of Representatives and the American people, I ask my 
colleagues to express our deep admiration and gratitude for Dr. 
Macary's advocacy for successful strong public education. It is a 
bittersweet moment to see him leave my hometown, but I wish him well 
and look forward to witnessing his future success in his new position 
as he leads Middletown Public Schools. I join Dr. Macary's family, 
friends, and colleagues in wishing him all the best in his next 
chapter.

                          ____________________