[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8193]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO ELLIOTT DUCHON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 1, 2012

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an 
individual whose dedication and contributions to the community of 
Jurupa Valley are exceptional. Our area has been fortunate to have 
dynamic and dedicated community leaders who willingly and unselfishly 
give their time and talent to make their communities a better place to 
live and work. Elliott Duchon is one of these individuals. On Saturday, 
May 19, 2012, Duchon was recognized as the Citizen of the Year by the 
Jurupa Valley Chamber of Commerce for his work as the Jurupa Unified 
School District Superintendent.
  In 1974, Duchon graduated from the University of California, 
Riverside (UCR) with a Master's Degree in Education and Psychology. 
After graduation, he was an elementary teacher for the Jurupa Unified 
School District where he also served on school planning committees, 
including the school site council. After three years of teaching, 
Duchon was self employed and served as a consultant to the Riverside 
County Superintendent of Schools where he performed land use studies 
and demographic research and analysis to form a Long Range Facility 
Plan for the 22 school districts in Riverside County. In 1981, Duchon 
became a Systems Planning Analyst for the Riverside County Office of 
Education (RCOE) where he performed planning and administrative duties 
related to the management of a fourteen building, $20 million facility 
construction program.
  After two years as the Systems Planning Analyst, Duchon became the 
Instructional Computing Project Manager for the Inland Empire Teacher 
Education and Computer Center within RCOE. In this role, he was 
responsible for an array of services related to the instructional uses 
of education technology. The services were provided to the 58 school 
districts in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. In 1985, Duchon was 
promoted to Director of the Region 13 Teacher Education and Computer 
Center where he was responsible for the two-county staff development 
program in all areas of the curriculum. In 1991, he was promoted again 
to Director of Administrative Services for RCOE where he was 
responsible for administration and management for the Department of 
Administrative Services, which included the Geographic Information 
Center, internal and external support for school facilities 
development, school district elections, staff support to the County 
Committee on School District Organization and other management 
services. After ten years as the Director, Duchon was promoted to the 
Riverside County Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Administrative 
Support Services, Division of Information Technology/Governmental 
Relations. In 2001, Duchon became the Deputy Superintendent for the 
Jurupa Unified School District and after three years became the 
Superintendent of Schools for the District.
  As Superintendent, Duchon was responsible for all aspects of 
operating a 20,000 student school district with over 2,000 employees 
and a $160 million budget. His major accomplishments include a District 
Academic Performance Index (API) that has risen 100 points during his 
tenure; the District has four Distinguished Schools and two Title I 
Achieving Schools; a 100% rating of Highly Qualified Teachers; the 
completion and opening of a new high school; the establishment of an 
Early College High School Academy with Riverside Community College; the 
District has received three Golden Bell awards; and the student 
achievement gap has narrowed. During his time, Duchon has been 
recognized by the Region XIX Association of California School 
Administrators as the 2007 Superintendent of the Year; recognized as 
the West Riverside School Administrators 2006 Superintendent of the 
Year; and recognized by the Riverside County, California School 
Bilingual Educators chapter as the 2006 Superintendent of the Year.
  In light of all Elliott Duchon has done for the students, parents and 
community of Jurupa Valley it is only fitting that he be honored as the 
Superintendent of the Year. Elliott Duchon's tireless passion for 
education and public service has contributed immensely to the 
betterment of our community and I am proud to call him a fellow 
community member, American and friend. I know that many community 
members are grateful for his service and salute him as he receives this 
prestigious award.

                          ____________________