[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10107]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                A TRIBUTE TO BEDFORD ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL

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                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 20, 2008

  Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Bedford 
Academy High School, located in Brooklyn, New York, for the 
achievements of the principal and faculty.
  Bedford Academy opened its doors in 2003 to a group of 100 
underperforming students. Principal George Leonard used his 13 years of 
experience in educating the community's youth to create a unique 
learning environment that combined strict discipline with an atmosphere 
of compassion and encouragement.
  Bedford Academy graduated nearly all of its students in its first 
class, the class of 2007. Many continued on to attend various colleges 
such as, Long Island University, Temple University, Stony Brook, 
Morehouse, and the New Jersey Institute of Technology, to name a few.
  Under the leadership of Principal George Leonard, Bedford Academy 
High School received a 90 percent-plus pass rate on all New York State 
Regents exams. To achieve this level of success, Bedford Academy 
conducts rigorous after-school tutoring almost daily and on Saturdays.
  As a result, Bedford Academy is now ranked the number one school in 
Brooklyn and the number two school in New York City.
  Lastly, Principal Leonard has stated that his ``vision is for every 
Black and Latino in the inner city to have an opportunity to learn just 
like anyone else in the country.'' In addition to his vision and the 
model set by Principal Leonard and the dedicated faculty of Bedford 
Academy High School, their commitment has profoundly influenced the 
student body to achieve academically and personally.

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