[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19295]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      A TRIBUTE TO LAVERNE NIMMONS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 8, 2011

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Laverne 
Nimmons for her service towards educating the youth of Brooklyn and her 
high expectations for her community.
  Dr. Nimmons was born in South Carolina and migrated to Brownsville, 
Brooklyn in 1960 where her mother would instill in her a lifelong 
passion for teaching. Dr. Nimmons' mother was a teacher at PS 137K and 
eagerly and ambitiously pushed her daughter towards studying public 
education. Dr. Nimmons attended Queens College after the passing of her 
mother and would receive her Bachelors and Masters degree in Education. 
She continued her educational pursuits, receiving her Professional 
Degree in Administration and Supervision from St. John's University, 
and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Fordham University.
  In 2003, Dr. Nimmons began an eight year career as Principal of 
Granville T. Woods Public School 335, which serves the predominantly 
African American, Crown Heights and Bedford Stutvesant Brooklyn 
neighborhoods. In this time Dr. Nimmons increased the passing rates in 
both mathematics and English courses by 67% and 61% respectively. With 
the guide of Dr. Nimmons P.S. 335 made the transformation, showing most 
gains of any other 4th grade students in New York State in mathematics 
and English. This earned the school the distinction of a National Blue 
Ribbon Award.
  Prior to becoming Principal at Granville T. Woods School, Dr. Nimmons 
was the director of curriculum and instruction for Community School 
District Sixteen. In this capacity she directed elementary and middle 
school Principals and teachers in professional development activities 
in all curriculum areas. The district that was once one of the lowest 
performing in the city, now boasts better gains than many other New 
York City school districts in similar socioeconomic communities.
  Dr. Nimmons has been awarded many prestigious awards for her 
dedicated service: the Terrell Bell Award for Excellence in Leadership, 
Educator of the Year Award in 2009 and 2011 from Education Update 
Magazine, and the 2010 Outstanding Educator of the Year from the 
Association of Black Educators in New York. Dr. Nimmons is currently a 
member of the Cahn Fellows Program for Distinguished Public School 
Principals at Teachers College, Columbia University.
  Dr. Nimmons' leadership, compassion and knowledge make her an example 
to all in our community. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me 
in recognizing the vast achievements of Dr. Laverne Nimmons.

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