Monday, March 15, 2010

Titus Bill Creates Award to Honor School Support Staff

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District spoke today on the House floor on H.R. 2377, legislation she introduced to establish a National Classified School Employees of the Year Award, which passed by voice vote.  Below are remarks as delivered.  Click here to watch her speech.

“Thank you, Madam Speaker.  I rise today in support of House Resolution 2377, a bill to establish a National Classified School Employees of the Year Award.

“For teachers to teach, and students to learn, schools must be well-maintained; students must be kept healthy and safe; and all of the adults with whom students interact throughout their day, whether on the playground or in the lunchroom, must support a school’s culture of excellence.

“Classified employees help to create and maintain an atmosphere that fosters achievement by working tirelessly to ensure the success of our nation’s students in public schools, colleges, and universities.  They provide essential services, including transportation, facilities maintenance and operations, food service, safety, health care, and others.  Whether they are in the classroom alongside teachers, helping to establish and promote a high-quality instructional educational environment, or in a bus making sure that students arrive at school on time so they are ready to learn, these classified employees play a vital role in our schools; and they should be recognized for the outstanding work that they do.

“There are approximately 2.8 million education support professionals across the country.  Yet too often their contributions go unrecognized, and that is why I am so pleased to have worked with you, Madam Speaker [Rep. Lynn Woolsey], as the lead sponsors of this resolution, a bill that would establish a National Classified School Employees of the Year Award, and I am proud that this legislation has 57 bipartisan supporters and cosponsors.

“This award would be very similar to the Teacher of the Year Award, but would recognize outstanding public school employees who provide support services to students from pre-kindergarten through higher education in nine categories:

• Paraprofessionals;
• Clerical services;
• Custodial and maintenance services;
• Transportation services;
• Food services;
• Skilled trades;
• Health and student services;
• Security services; and
• Technical services.

“The Secretary of Education will solicit nominations from the states in each of these occupational specialties.  Nominees must demonstrate excellence in work performance; school and community involvement; leadership and commitment; local support; enhancement of classified school employees’ image in the community and the school; and any other area of superior performance as determined by the Secretary.  The award winners will be recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the President.

“Let me be clear – this is not a new government program, and honoring these special employees will not cost the government any money.  Nor would this be the first time that government agencies have presented such awards to individuals who make important contributions.  Both the Department of Defense and the Department of Commerce currently give such awards.

“Honoring our classified school employees will provide the recognition and appreciation they deserve for the important work they do every day on the front lines to help our students succeed.  As Booker T. Washington said, ‘Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way.’

“So I urge my colleagues reward the uncommon excellence of classified school employees by supporting H.R. 2377, and I yield back the balance of my time.”

Click here for the text of the legislation.

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Tags: education