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[Page S123]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO CALVIN BAKER
Ms. McSALLY. Mr. President, in April of 1981, President George
H.W. Bush said ``think about every problem, every challenge, we face.
The solution to each starts with education.'' These words were true
then, and they are just as true today. Education is the bedrock of our
society, and it allows our country to advance.
It is difficult to think of someone who exemplifies President Bush's
words more than Vail School District Superintendent Calvin Baker. I
have been privileged to get to know Cal and his wife Nancy over the
last many years. I also live in Vail School District--VSD--so I have
seen the impact he has made in our community firsthand.
Cal moved back to Arizona in 1987 to become the principal of the only
school in the Vail School District, serving 500 students. He was
appointed as the superintendent of the district in 1988 and has been at
the helm ever since. During his nearly 33 years of service to students
and families in our community, Cal led the growth to now 22 schools
serving over 14,000 students. The growth was not by accident. Families
want to move to VSD so their kids can experience the world-class
educational experience thanks to Cal's extraordinary leadership and
success.
As with any organization, leadership matters, and for effective
leadership, character matters. Calvin Baker sets the example of
integrity, selfless service, and humility for all to follow. He is
truly a good man.
In his tenure, Cal built an impressive team of educators and support
staff and created a culture of innovation, parent involvement, and
dedication to students. Cal's vision for success was based on the
principle that education is a community effort. He has been the glue
that kept our growing and diverse community together united with a
common goal of educational excellence. In a recent letter Cal sent to
parents in his district, he said, ``I encourage each of you to invest
deeply in your child's education and our local schools. It is that
investment that is the `secret sauce' of Vail's success.''
Calvin Baker is a trailblazer on innovation in education for so many
other districts in the State and country to follow. Empire High School
was the first school in the United States to eliminate textbooks in
favor of computers. He pioneered the Beyond Textbooks program that
combines Vail's successful instructional methodology with an online
delivery system. Cal didn't just want Vail students to benefit from
this effective approach. Now, 115 school districts across Arizona and
six other States use this program, some of which have become top
performing districts in their States.
Baker's creative and visionary leadership didn't stop there. When
enrollment in the district surpassed capacity, he developed a year-
round track system to ensure educational standards were high while new
infrastructure was planned and built. Under his leadership, Vail
schools are consistently labeled as ``A+'' by the Arizona Department of
Education.
Calvin Baker's legacy is immense and immeasurable. It will continue
on with the thousands of children in a generation who received an
amazing education in Vail School District under his leadership,
propelling them on a path of opportunity for their futures. Cal is the
longest serving superintendent of any school district in Arizona and
has left an indelible mark on education for Arizona and the country.
Appropriately, Pima County passed a resolution naming December 20 as
Calvin Baker Appreciation Day, an honor in which Cal is more than
deserving.
Last year, Cal confronted another challenge when he was diagnosed
with multiple myeloma. His example of faith, grit, and courage as he
faced the diagnosis and treatment continues to be an inspiration to us
all.
I want to personally thank Cal for his service and wish him, Nancy,
and their whole family all the best in his much-deserved
retirement.
____________________