[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 699]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING BARBARA SNOPEK, PRINCIPAL OF SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANIEL LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 1, 2006

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Barbara Snopek, 
Principal of Saint Francis Xavier in La Grange, Illinois and recipient 
of the 2005 National Distinguished Principal Award.
  The National Distinguished Principals Program was established in 1984 
as an annual event to honor exemplary elementary school principals who 
set the pace, character, and quality of the education children receive 
during their early school years. One principal is chosen from each of 
the 50 states and the District of Columbia, and this year Ms. Barbara 
Snopek has been selected as a National Distinguished Principal.
  Before arriving at St. Francis in 1989, Snopek served as principal at 
St. Genevieve in Chicago and St. Suzanna in Harvey, Illinois. In her 
first year at St. Francis she worked closely with the staff to create 
and implement new curricula for the school. Since Ms. Snopek began her 
work at St. Francis, enrollment in the school has increased greatly and 
the majority of the students are testing above the 75th percentile in 
all academic areas on standardized tests.
  Aside from initiated programs that benefit students, Ms. Snopek is 
also credited with an excellent ability to recognize the talents of her 
teachers. She helps develop staff members by providing them with varied 
opportunities for professional growth, including pursuing advanced 
degrees. Teachers and administration alike recognize Ms. Snopek as one 
who merges her responsibilities as a spiritual and educational leader 
to the benefit of her students and staff.
  It is my honor to recognize Ms. Barbara Snopek who serves as an 
example of one of the best in PreK-8 school leadership and helps to 
foster a greater understanding of the principal's key role in meeting 
the challenging responsibility of educating children.

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