The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING DR. DAVID VIERRA FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE ANTELOPE VALLEY UNION
HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
______
HON. KEVIN McCARTHY
of california
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 30, 2021
Mr. McCARTHY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. David Vierra for 40 years of service in public education and the lasting contributions he has made to the Antelope Valley, his lifelong home. In August of this year, David retired from his position as Antelope Valley Union High School District Superintendent after serving for nearly two decades in that role.
Upon graduating from Antelope Valley High School in Lancaster, California, one of the very schools that he would later serve as District Superintendent, David earned his bachelor's degree from California State University, Northridge, and subsequently began his career in education in 1981 as a teacher in the Lancaster Elementary School District. Soon after, he took his talents abroad, serving in the U.S. Department of Defense as an instructor at Kaiserslautern American High School in Germany, where he also coached football and basketball.
In 1998, David became the Assistant Superintendent of Personnel Services at the Antelope Valley Union High School District and just four years later--a true testament to his inherent leadership skills--
David was tapped to lead the school district as Superintendent. Under David's direction, the Antelope Valley Union High School District has transformed into a vastly successful school system that prepares students for the 21st century and has even been internationally recognized. In 2018, Antelope Valley Union High School District received a special, six-year districtwide accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), a world-renowned accrediting association in the United States that works closely with the Office of Overseas Schools under the Department of State. The Antelope Valley Union High School District is the first school district in the continental United States to receive district-wide WASC accreditation.
Over the past few decades, Antelope Valley students have received full-ride scholarships to prestigious universities and have been awarded national recognitions for their successes. David also worked to establish Students on Academic Rise (SOAR), an early college high school program that prepares students, many of which come from disadvantaged backgrounds, seeking alternative career paths to successfully enter the workforce.
David's passion for education reflects his own academic journey, as he earned a master's degree from Azusa Pacific University and a PhD in education philosophy from Claremont Graduate University, all while balancing his leadership obligations and commitment to helping students pursue their interests in and outside of the classroom. David is also well-known in the Antelope Valley community as being exceptionally generous with his time and talent, dedicating countless hours to local civic, athletic, and educational organizations. David has served the Antelope Valley Hospital Foundation as a Director, the University of Antelope Valley as Chairman of the Board, and the Antelope Valley Board of Trade as a Board Member on its Education Committee. This past summer, David received the key to the City of Lancaster, a well-
deserved honor.
Known for his personal approach to education and leadership, David spent his time as Superintendent building relationships with students, parents, and teachers. The President of the Antelope Valley Union High School District's Board of Education noted that this special quality, along with David's integrity and ``unwavering commitment to solving the near impossible''--especially during the coronavirus pandemic--helped him lead the Antelope Valley Union High School District ``through the unthinkable.'' On behalf of the 23rd Congressional District of California, I wish David, his wife, and three children all the best as they enter this exciting new chapter of life.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 206
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