HONORING DR. GUSTAVO BALDERAS OF EUGENE, NATIONAL SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR; Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 37
(Extensions of Remarks - February 25, 2020)
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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E208]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING DR. GUSTAVO BALDERAS OF EUGENE, NATIONAL SUPERINTENDENT OF THE
YEAR
_____
HON. PETER A. DeFAZIO
of oregon
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Mr. DeFAZIO. Madam Speaker, I am proud to announce my constituent,
Dr. Gustavo Balderas, superintendent of Eugene School District 4J, was
named Superintendent of the Year by the American Association of School
Administrators. Dr. Balderas now makes three Oregon superintendents
that have won the prestigious award, two of which hail from Oregon's
Fourth Congressional District.
Education has long been a passion for Dr. Balderas. He is the proud
son of migrant parents from Piedras Negras, Cohauila Mexico--who, like
many migrants, sought a better life for their family in the United
States. His parents saw getting an education as a path forward for
their son and pushed him to follow this track.
Dr. Balderas is an Oregonian through and through--beginning his
education in the Nyssa School District and Treasure Valley Community
College in Eastern Oregon, earning a bachelor's degree from Western
Oregon University and then a master's degree from Portland State
University, and, finally, receiving his doctorate from the University
of Oregon. He has spent nearly all his 30-year career in Oregon.
I am not surprised the American Association of School Administrators
bestowed their distinguished award to Dr. Balderas. He is well-known
and well-respected throughout the state for his leadership in education
equity. Dr. Balderas is committed to mentoring and providing counsel
and direction to the future leaders of our state's school districts.
He has made great strides in increasing the diversity of Eugene 4J's
educator workforce. Under his leadership, 30 percent of all district
administrators, including 39 percent of school principals, are people
of color, more accurately reflecting the district's 31 percent
enrollment among students of color.
He has also partnered with community organizations to combat youth
and family homelessness in our district.
In accepting his award, Dr. Balderas said: ``This is a `we' award,
not a `me' award''--accepting the award on behalf of his community
rather than himself. I am thrilled that Eugene 4J has such a dedicated,
yet modest, leader who recognizes the important work educators
contribute towards making our public schools exceptional. In fact, it
was the educators in his life that inspired him to follow this path.
They made him a better student and the role model he is today.
Dr. Balderas' talents were cultivated in Oregon's public schools, and
today our community is reaping the rewards from his capacity,
capability, and commitment. I am honored to have an educator of Dr.
Balderas' caliber serve our community, and I thank him for the
outstanding work he has done and will continue to do on behalf of the
students of Eugene 4J and all of public education.
____________________