[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 11645-11646]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE SERVICE OF MR. CLIFF DODSON, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS IN 
                    BUNCOMBE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HEATH SHULER

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 5, 2009

  Mr. SHULER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Cliff Dodson on 
his impending retirement.
  For the past nine years, Mr. Dodson has served our community as the 
Superintendent of Buncombe County Schools. As Superintendent, Mr. 
Dodson has demonstrated his dedication to quality education and has 
ardently worked to improve educational opportunities for all children. 
Through his dedication and commitment to education, Mr. Dodson has 
helped shape the future of Western North Carolina.
  He began his service to education thirty-eight years ago as a science 
and physical education teacher. He has continued to work tirelessly on 
behalf of children in various roles as an educator, as an Assistant 
Principal, as a Principal, and for the past twenty-three years as a 
public school Superintendent.
  Mr. Dodson proven himself an accomplished public servant by 
successfully overseeing the educational direction of over 25,000 
students and effectively administering a budget of almost a quarter of 
a million dollars. Due to his outstanding efforts he has been 
recognized by the North Carolina Association of Educators as 
Superintendent of the Year.
  I deeply appreciate that under his direction during these difficult 
economic times, Buncombe County has ensured that 12,000 students can 
receive free or reduced-price hot cafeteria meals. He has certainly set 
an admirable example for future public servants who follow in his path.
  Mr. Dodson has also served on the Board of Directors for numerous 
education-based organizations including the United Way, Children First, 
and the North Carolina School Administrators Association. In addition 
to his service in the field of education, as an honored veteran, Mr. 
Dodson earned the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry for his service as a 
United States Marine.
  Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor Mr. Cliff Dodson today and I want 
to thank him for his invaluable contributions to the Western North 
Carolina educational community and to wish him well in his retirement.

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