Recognizing Mr. Stuart Packard

Floor Speech

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Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Stuart Packard for his 35 years of service as an educator in California and to congratulate him on his retirement as the Superintendent of Buttonwillow Union School District.

Mr. Packard's long-standing career in education began at the University of La Verne, where he studied Journalism and Public Relations and later received his teaching credential. After graduating, he spent his first year as a teacher in the Ontario-Montclair School District. It was over the next two decades that Mr. Packard would become an integral part of the Bakersfield school community, first as a teacher in the Panama-Buena Vista School District and then as a principal in the Standard School District. In July of 2011, Mr. Packard became the Superintendent of Buttonwillow Union School District, where he spent the next 12 years. Under his leadership, the district became one of the fastest improving school districts in the state.

The addition of advanced-learning programs, expansion of extracurricular and off-campus opportunities, and construction of a new school building have contributed to the district's success. The district also enacted AVID Elementary for students in kindergarten through eighth grade and fully implemented a Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program. The district has been featured in local, state, and national publications for these improvements. During his tenure, student outcomes have also been strong. Discipline referrals and suspensions have declined by over 90 percent and during the COVID-19 pandemic, the district successfully returned to in-person learning during its earliest stages. The district has faced many challenges throughout Mr. Packard's career and his dedication to his role is paramount to the district's success. Mr. Packard's commitment to the success of students in Bakersfield will have a lasting impact on the Central Valley community.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Mr. Packard's lifetime of service and commitment as an educator in the Central Valley. I wish him a happy and well-deserved retirement.

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