[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19915]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                  PAYING TRIBUTE TO MARY JEAN LeTENDRE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WILLIAM F. GOODLING

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 26, 2000

  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
pay tribute to Mary Jean LeTendre, Director of Compensatory Programs at 
the U.S. Department of Education. I recently learned that Mary Jean 
plans to retire in January 2001. Her departure will be a great loss for 
the Department of Education and for those programs that have benefited 
from her guidance during her years of service.
  For the past 15 years, Mary Jean has been the director of the $8.5 
billion Title I program. Managing this program is an enormous task for 
anyone, but Mary Jean has worked against overwhelming odds to ensure 
the program actually does help close the achievement gap that currently 
exists in our nation's schools. She has been particularly instrumental 
in ensuring that early childhood services are provided to disadvantaged 
at-risk youngsters in an effort to make sure they are ``reading ready'' 
when they reach first grade. When this happens, many of these children 
excel, enjoy learning, and do not fall behind.
  Mary Jean's most important concern was first and always helping 
disadvantaged children get a piece of the American dream. She has also 
been a true advocate for some of our country's most at-risk children, 
including homeless children and those in facilities for neglected and 
delinquent children and youth.
  But, Mr. Speaker, Mary Jean's greatest accomplishments have been in 
the area of family literacy. In 1988, Congress enacted the Even Start 
Family Literacy Program, based on legislation I introduced in the House 
of Representatives.
  My greatest concern was that Even Start would not work if it was not 
properly administered and someone was not there ensuring that program 
requirements were met at the local level. But I should not have 
worried. Mary Jean was there every step of the way to make sure that 
each and every program included all of the core components: adult 
education, age appropriate education for participating children, parent 
and child together time, and assistance to help parents become their 
child's first and most important teacher.
  As a result, Even Start has helped thousands of families to end 
cycles of illiteracy and become productive members of society. With 
Mary Jean's hard work and guidance, my dream of a literate society may 
yet become a reality. Her legacy will be the numerous children and 
families who have benefited from her efforts to ensure that 
participants receive a high quality education.
  Mr. Speaker, I have never met a more dedicated and knowledgeable 
career government official than Mary Jean LeTendre. Our nation's 
children have benefited greatly under her care. She will truly be 
missed.

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