[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 5046]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                          TRIBUTE TO TIM CREAL

 Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. President, today I wish to 
recognize and honor a South Dakotan who has been a tremendous advocate 
for rural education and has shown selfless dedication to ensuring 
thousands of students in South Dakota achieved their highest academic 
potential.
  At the close of this school year, Dr. Tim Creal will retire from the 
Custer School District, where he has served as superintendent for 10 
years. Tim began his career as an educator in the Faith School District 
in 1979. After teaching in Faith, SD, he spent nearly 20 years with the 
New Underwood School District, working first as a high school math 
teacher and coach for 10 years. He then served as an elementary 
principal, special education director, and superintendent for the 
school district. In 2001, Tim moved to Custer, SD, to serve as the 
superintendent for the Custer School District.
  Tim earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics education at Black 
Hills State University, BHSU, a university known for its exceptional 
education program. Last year, Tim was honored with the BHSU Excellence 
in Education Alumni Award, which is an award to honor an alumnus' 
outstanding contributions to the field of education.
  Tim is a national leader and advocate for rural education. In 2001, 
Senator Tom Daschle appointed him to the Forest Counties Payments 
Committee, where Tim served for 7 years and helped oversee the 
implementation of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-
Determination Act. Tim currently is on the board of the National Forest 
Counties and Schools Coalition. Additionally, Tim is actively involved 
with the Impact Aid Program and serves as secretary of the Section 8002 
Federal property group for the National Association of Federally 
Impacted Schools, NAFIS. As a founder of the Senate Impact Aid Caucus, 
I have appreciated working with Tim to ensure children living in rural 
areas and enrolled in federally impacted schools receive a high-quality 
education.
  Over the years, I have enjoyed working closely with Tim on issues of 
great importance to education in South Dakota and have greatly valued 
Tim's insight and expertise. I commend Tim for his stewardship and 
involvement with the Secure Rural Schools and Impact Aid programs. Tim 
is currently in Washington, DC, for the annual spring NAFIS conference, 
and I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his service 
to our State and Nation. As Tim prepares to retire from the Custer 
School District, I wish him, as well as his wife Darla, all the very 
best. I am deeply appreciative of Tim's years of service to students in 
South Dakota and for helping prepare our State's next generation of 
leaders.

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