[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 9386-9387]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION AND CELEBRATION OF ISRAEL SOTO PRINCIPAL OF JAMES WELDON 
              JOHNSON LEADERSHIP ACADEMY PUBLIC SCHOOL 57

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 19, 2012

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize a dear friend and 
great force in the education of our children, Israel Soto, principal of 
James Weldon Johnson Leadership Academy Public School 57, who is 
retiring after a long career in public education service. Israel, a 
Puerto Rican immigrant, began his career in education in my 
congressional district as a school bilingual coordinator and as an 
assistant director of bilingual education in Washington Heights.
  In 1999, Israel ascended to principal of James Weldon Johnson 
Leadership Academy Public School 57, a pre-K-8 school in East Harlem/El 
Barrio, which is also a part of my district. Mr. Soto's expertise in 
bilingual education and the fact that his second language was English, 
like many of the school's students, made him an ideal choice for 
principal. His talents extend to all facets of education, and under his 
leadership, James Weldon Johnson Leadership Academy has gone from a 
near-failing school to one that received a grade of ``A'' in its latest 
Progress Report and is ranked in the 93rd percentile of all New York 
City K-8 schools.
  Principal Soto has deservedly received numerous awards during his 
tenure. In 2001, he was named ``Principal of the Month'' in his school 
district and in 2004 was recognized as the ``Educator of the Week'' by 
Univision 41 Nueva York. Israel has also been inducted into the ``Cahn 
Fellows Program for Distinguished Principals'' at Columbia University 
as well as being honored by Children 4 Children, the YMCA of New York, 
the New York Post, and El Diario La Prensa.
  Principal Soto's work at James Weldon Johnson Leadership Academy 
serves as a model for current and future educators. He has built strong 
partnerships with teachers, parents, community organizations, and the 
private sector while keeping his focus internal, on his students. This 
outreach has significantly increased the academic resources available 
to his students and demonstrates the supreme importance of an active 
and charismatic principal and leader.
  On Thursday, May 31, 2012 at the elegant Marina del Rey, the Soto 
Retirement Committee joined the East Harlem/El Barrio community of 
leaders, children, parents, families, friends, and education advocates 
to pay tribute to our Dream Maker Principal Israel Soto.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues join me in honoring a 
great man and an impassioned educator who, first and foremost, believes 
in all of our extraordinary children.

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