[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2369]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          LEADER IN EDUCATION

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 15, 2005

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Dr. 
Walter L. Buster, of Prather, California. Dr. Buster is a recipient of 
the Kremen School of Education and Human Development ``Noted Alumni 
Award.''
  Dr. Buster received his Bachelor of Arts in English from Westmont 
College in Santa Barbara, then went on to attain his Master of Arts 
from Chapman College in Orange, California. He then moved to Montana 
and attended University of Montana to receive his Doctorate in 
Curriculum Development.
  Walt moved back to California where he began his teaching career in 
Fullerton, then became Superintendent of Fairfax School District in 
1984. In this position, Walt acted as the Chief Executive Officer for a 
K-8 district with 600 students in Marin County. He developed a plan for 
consolidation with the San Anselmo School District that was approved by 
the voters, and was responsible for cooperatively merging the Fairfax 
School District with the San Anselmo School District into the new Ross 
Valley School District.
  He continued on as Superintendent, helping other school districts 
succeed, and finally came to Clovis and joined our community as 
Superintendent of Clovis Unified School District. After seven years 
with Clovis Unified, Walt became the Director of the Central Valley 
Education Leadership Institute at California State University, Fresno.
  Walt's success has been great, and he has served on numerous 
committees and councils, such as the Fresno Compact Board of Directors, 
California State University, Fresno, Superintendents' Advisory Council, 
ACSA/CSLA Executive Leadership Planning Committee and Seminar 
Facilitator.
  As gratitude for his service, Dr. Buster received the Robert Alioto 
Award for Instructional Leadership from the California School 
Leadership Academy, and the Citizen of the Year Award from the Clovis 
Chamber of Commerce. Most recently he is being honored by the Kremen 
School of Education and Human Development. Walt has given so much to 
his communities, and we are grateful for his leadership.

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