[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 7781-7782]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE DISTINGUISHED EDUCATION CAREER OF HOWARD BERGER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DEVIN NUNES

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 24, 2011

  Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the long and 
distinguished career of Howard Berger, Superintendent of the Tulare 
Joint Union High School District, who is retiring at the end of this 
school year. Howard spent his entire career teaching and guiding high 
schools in Tulare. His awards and accomplishments are so numerous that 
there is not enough time today to list them. What I can say is that for 
the people of Tulare there is no need for a list. Anyone who knows 
Howard also knows that he is a Tulare institution.
  After graduating from California State University, Hayward in 1968, 
Howard began his teaching career in Tulare County. Howard admits that 
he only intended to spend a year at Tulare Union High School teaching 
Social Studies. Fortunately for students and parents that school year 
stretched to 1983. Howard has said that what kept him in Tulare was the 
great community spirit and commitment to education of its residents. 
During 1972-1973, Howard also taught Social Studies and English at 
Cherry Avenue Middle School.
  In 1975, Howard began his distinguished career as an academic 
administrator, becoming Chair of the Social Studies Department at 
Tulare Union High School. Further success followed like clockwork. In 
1986, Howard was named Assistant Principal at Tulare Western High 
School and in 1989 he was selected Principal at Tulare Union High 
School. In 2006, Howard had the honor of being named Superintendent of 
the Tulare Joint Union High School District. Under his leadership, 
Tulare opened a third high school, Mission Oak, a milestone in Tulare 
history. Mission Oak High School will see its first graduating class 
this year.
  During his time as Principal and Superintendent, there were numerous 
accomplishments, honors and awards reflecting Howard's leadership of 
Tulare high schools. Recognition came from the Western Association of 
Schools and Colleges, the State of California, the federal government, 
and national education associations, including a Bill & Melinda Gates 
grant to participate in a national educational study.
  Howard's career as Principal and Superintendent will be remembered as 
an important chapter in Tulare County history. What should also be 
remembered was that Howard was first and foremost a teacher. As he has 
said, ``I think in my whole career the experience I've

[[Page 7782]]

enjoyed the most was teaching. You see immediately the impact you've 
had.''
  For 43 years, the citizens of Tulare have had the privilege of Howard 
teaching and guiding their students. Forty-three years is a long time. 
In Howard's office there is also a 43-year-old Fisher 150 record player 
that he bought with his first paycheck from the school district. Like 
the record player, many changes have occurred in Tulare, the State of 
California, and the nation. Howard successfully steered Tulare high 
schools through them all. It is hard to imagine Tulare schools without 
Howard. As he enjoys his retirement, I hope Howard will also have time 
to reflect on his legacy and know that he had a lasting impact on the 
lives of thousands of high school students and their families.

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