[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10629]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING DR. ALLAN ALSON FOR HIS DISTINGUISHED RECORD OF SERVICE 
     AS SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOL DISTRICT 202 IN EVANSTON, ILLINOIS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 8, 2006

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of the 9th 
Congressional District of Illinois, I am proud to pay tribute to Dr. 
Allan Alson upon his retirement as Superintendent of Evanston Township 
High School (ETHS). Over the past 16 years at ETHS, two as Assistant 
Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction and 14 as Superintendent, 
Dr. Alson has served the Evanston community with honor and distinction.
  Dr. Alson's vision, courage, and commitment to give each young person 
the gift of a quality education has helped make Evanston a more 
unified, respectful, and tolerant community. Under Dr. Alson's 
leadership, Evanston Township High School has advanced its reputation 
as one of the very best high schools in America. In addition to 
promoting academic success, Dr. Alson's long list of accomplishments 
also includes improvements in the arts, athletics and extracurricular 
programs.
  Dr. Alson has helped unite community resources and build diverse 
partnerships to solve community problems and enhance the educational 
experience of ETHS students. During Dr. Alson's service, Evanston 
Township High School has forged partnerships with the city of Evanston, 
its business and health- care communities, and Northwestern and 
National-Louis Universities. Examples of effective collaborations 
spearheaded by Dr. Alson's administration include an award-winning 
School Based Health Center, student workforce training, and an 
interagency consortium for youth advocacy.
  Throughout his tenure as Superintendent of Evanston Township High 
School, Dr. Alson has made the achievement of students of color an 
essential goal. In 1999, Dr. Alson founded the Minority Student 
Achievement Network, a national consortium of 25 urban-suburban 
districts devoted to improving the academic achievement of students of 
color. Dr. Alson has helped foster a culture of excellence and a 
climate of high expectations for all students. While more work remains 
to be done, Evanston Township High School has seen the rate of college 
attendance for students of color rise from 65 percent to almost 80 
percent.
  Dr. Alson will long be remembered with gratitude for his tireless 
efforts to promote academic excellence and social justice. However, 
most importantly, he can look about the community and see a legacy made 
of the thousands of young people, parents, teachers, administrators and 
community members whose lives he has touched. It is a legacy for which 
he can be immensely proud.
  In honor of his legacy of service, I offer Dr. Alson this United 
States flag as a symbol of appreciation, esteem and good wishes. This 
flag was flown over the United States Capitol building in Washington, 
DC in honor of an outstanding educator, advocate, true public servant, 
and my valued personal friend.
  On behalf of the community to which he has given so much, I 
congratulate Dr. Alson and offer him my best wishes for many years of 
health, happiness, and continued success.

                          ____________________