[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 454]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



      GREAT PROGRAM NATIONAL PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR, DENNIS DEARDEN

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                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 1, 2000

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to recognize 
Principal Dennis Dearden. He is a man that has worked very hard to 
reduce the numbers of gangs and violence in schools across the State of 
Colorado. Recently, his work was rewarded when he was named the 
National Principal of the Year.
  Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) program, backed by the 
United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, teaches students 
how to resolve conflicts, avoid peer pressure and set personal goals. 
It also helps the students to understand cultural differences and how 
gangs negatively impact the quality of life.
  As a result of the program implemented by Dennis, violence declined 
tremendously at Mount Garfield and drug-related calls to law 
enforcement dropped from 34 to zero. These astounding figures appeared 
in a report presented to Congress in support of the GREAT program.
  Dennis was nominated for the award by Colorado State Trooper and 
Western Slope Coordinator of GREAT, Don Moseman. His nomination was 
chosen out of more than 3,000 principals across the nation.
  It is with this, Mr. Speaker, that I say thank you to Principal 
Dennis Dearden for his dedication to our youth and the fight he has 
waged against gangs and violence. In addition, to our thanks, Dennis 
deserves our congratulations on being named Principal of the Year. 
Clearly, Dennis is eminently deserving of this high honor.

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