[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 28299]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



HONORING BARBARA WHEELER FOR HER SERVICE TO PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PUBLIC 
                   SCHOOLS IN DOWNERS GROVE, ILLINOIS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JUDY BIGGERT

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 2, 1999

  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Barbara 
Wheeler for her invaluable contributions to the children of DuPage 
County and the State of Illinois over the past 25 years.
  Since 1974, Ms. Wheeler has been a dedicated member of the Community 
High School District Board of Education, DuPage County. She served in 
leadership roles as president of the school board for 15 years and vice 
president for 5 years. Throughout her career, she has made it a 
priority to ensure that the school board sets attainable goals to raise 
student achievement and to build a consensus among business, educators, 
and the community at large.
  Ms. Wheeler is an active board member of the National School Boards 
Association (NSBA), serving as chair of the NSBA Central Region, a 
member of the Policies and Resolutions Committee, Secretary-Treasurer 
and President Elect. She served as President of the NSBA in 1998, when 
she championed a nationwide campaign to make our schools safer.
  Besides her extensive work in the educational field, Ms. Wheeler is 
an energetic and committed community leader. She is a volunteer for the 
Illinois Department on Aging, George Williams College, the Downers 
Grove Chamber of Commerce, and the Downers Grove YMCA.
  An Illinois native, Ms. Wheeler attended St. Dominic College, 
Northern Illinois University and the DePaul University College of Law. 
She is an active member of the Chicago and Illinois State Bar 
Associations and the American Bar Association. She has served as 
Assistant State's Attorney, Cook County, Illinois, and is in private 
law practice with the firm Wheeler, Wheeler and Wheeler in Westmont, 
Illinois.
  I have had the privilege to know Barbara Wheeler for many years, and 
greatly respect her for the unwavering commitment she has made to 
excellence in education. While I can confidently say that the citizens 
of DuPage County wish her much success in her future endeavors, we must 
recognize that her wisdom and years of experience will be sorely missed 
by the school board, as well as by parents and students. DuPage County, 
the State of Illinois, and our nation are better places because Ms. 
Barbara Wheeler dedicated a portion of her life to the education of our 
children.

                          ____________________