RECOGNIZING ERNIE BELL'S LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO SIERRA SANDS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 65
(Extensions of Remarks - April 15, 2019)
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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E467]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING ERNIE BELL'S LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO SIERRA SANDS UNIFIED
SCHOOL DISTRICT
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HON. KEVIN McCARTHY
of california
in the house of representatives
Monday, April 15, 2019
Mr. McCARTHY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Mr.
Ernest ``Ernie'' M. Bell Jr., who retires this year after an extensive
career in education from his position as the Superintendent of the
Sierra Sands Unified School District (SSUSD), which serves the Indian
Wells Valley in my congressional district in California.
Born and raised in Ridgecrest, California, Ernie graduated from
Sherman E. Burroughs High School and attended Bakersfield College
before receiving a degree in Biology from the University of California,
Davis, and a Masters of Arts in Educational Leadership and
Administration at California State University, Bakersfield. He then
returned home to Ridgecrest, beginning a career in education at Murray
Middle School, where he taught and coached for ten years, then served
as the school's Vice Principal for four years, and finally as Murray
Middle's Principal for ten years. Throughout his career as an educator,
Ernie achieved extensive knowledge of the interworking and importance
of education through his participation on SSUSD leadership committees
and peer review panels. And it was by tackling issues critical to the
district, such as student safety, collective bargaining, budgetary
issues, and accreditation, that Ernie seamlessly transitioned from the
classroom to SSUSD administration. In 2014, Ernie accepted the position
of Superintendent of Sierra Sands Unified School District, a position
that capped a lifelong career dedicated to education in the Indian
Wells Valley. As Superintendent, Ernie led and successfully pushed to
renovate and modernize Murray Middle School and Burroughs High School,
and spearheaded the effort to secure funding for the construction of
Richmond Elementary School. Ernie's legacy will be defined not only by
his esteemed career as an educator to countless students, but by the
fruits of his tireless advocacy for quality education in the Indian
Wells Valley on future generations of students.
I know Ernie Bell as a man of his word and as a public servant who
tirelessly advocated for the needs of our community's students and
teachers better than almost anyone. I know that despite his retirement,
he will remain just as active in the Ridgecrest community as ever. On
behalf of a grateful community, I wish Ernie, his wife, Deanne, and
their children, Jacob, Zachary, and Rebecca, all the best as they begin
this new chapter of his life.
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