[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9134]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 HONORING METRO SCHOOLS DIRECTOR, DR. BILL M. WISE, ON THE OCCASION OF 
 HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE METROPOLITAN NASHVILLE-DAVIDSON COUNTY PUBLIC 
                             SCHOOL SYSTEM

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB CLEMENT

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 22, 2001

  Mr. CLEMENT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Metro Schools 
Director, Dr. Bill M. Wise, on the occasion of his retirement from the 
Metropolitan/Davidson County/Nashville, Tennessee school system after 
31 years of outstanding service to students, teachers, and personnel.
  Dr. Wise is to be commended for the impact he has made on the local, 
state, and national levels through his tireless work to achieve unity 
during legal battles over court-ordered desegregation busing. His 
leadership proved pivotal in the successful resolution of this 
important matter. Leaders from across the Nation have sought his advice 
and expertise in this area and he has offered consultations and hope in 
times of crisis to schools in Texas, South Carolina, Mississippi, 
Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Alabama. Wise is also recognized 
nationally for his successful management skills and expertise in school 
facilities management.
  His philosophy has always focused on what is best for students and 
student achievement including improving physical conditions in school 
facilities and fostering morale. Because of his strong leadership 
skills combined with character and courage, Wise's efforts have proven 
extremely fruitful.
  A native Tennessean, Bill Wise was educated at the University of 
North Alabama in Florence, where he received a Bachelor of Science in 
1963, and a Master's Degree in 1965. He continued his education at the 
University of Tennessee in Knoxville, earning a Doctorate of Education 
in 1970.
  Wise began his career as an Alabama school teacher in 1963 working 
for the Florence City School system and later moving to the university 
level as an instructor and coach at the University of North Alabama 
until 1968.
  After a two-year stint as a Ford Foundation Fellow at the University 
of Tennessee, Wise was named Assistant Superintendent for the 
Metropolitan Nashville-Davidson County Public School System in 1970. He 
was promoted to Deputy Superintendent, where he served from 1994-1997. 
He then became Interim Director of Schools and nine months later was 
named Director of Schools.
  As Director of Schools, Wise has been responsible for an operating 
budget upwards of $300 million and a capital budget of nearly $100 
million, while implementing and overseeing The Strategic Plan for the 
Metropolitan Nashville Public School District. The school district 
includes more than one hundred twenty-five public schools with 
thousands of students from all walks of life.
  Wise has been honored numerous times by his peers. Recent awards 
include: the Council of the Great City Schools First Annual Bill Wise 
Award in 2000; the National Football Foundation and College Hall of 
Fame, Middle Tennessee Chapter, Distinguished American Award in 2001; 
and the Tennessee School Plant Management Association's Superintendent 
of the Year for 2001.
  Additionally, he has been active in numerous professional 
organizations including: the American Association of School 
Administrators; the Tennessee Association for Supervision and 
Administration; the Council of the Great City Schools, Business 
Officials Group; the Southeastern Association of School Business 
Officials; Phi Delta Kappa; Iota Lambda Sigma; and Council of 
Educational Facility Planners.
  His civic contributions include involvement on the Board of Directors 
for the following organizations: Green Hills YMCA; Nashville Chapter of 
the American Red Cross; National Kidney Foundation of Middle Tennessee 
(Past President); Nashville Institute for the Arts; Cumberland Science 
Museum; Boy Scouts of America's Middle Tennessee Council; Junior 
Achievement of Middle Tennessee, Inc.; and Metropolitan Nashville 
Public Education Foundation.
  With the obvious challenges and changes that Wise has faced during 
his career in public education, I am pleased to honor him for facing 
adversity with courage and using the tools available in an imperfect 
system to craft a successful educational program for students in our 
community. I respect his philosophy of focusing on learning, support 
systems and appropriate settings for equity and excellence for all 
students and promoting change as positive and necessary for continual 
personal improvement.
  In closing, Dr. Wise is to be commended for building a solid 
foundation for those who will follow in his footsteps and strive to 
meet the goal of improving educational opportunities for all 
Tennesseans. I have no doubt that his dedication and service to our 
community, our state, and our nation, will be remembered for many years 
to come.

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