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Rep. Thomas M. Davis

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise and pay tribute to Nancy Weisgerber, who has served the Fairfax County public schools system for the past 26 years as a teacher, counselor, and principal. June 3, 1997 marks the retirement of this exceptional member of our local community, who has dedicated years of service to Fairfax County, and its students.

After receiving her bachelors degree from Muskingum College in 1964, Nancy began her long and distinguished career in Fairfax County, as a health and physical education teacher at Falls Church High School. She received her masters of education from the University of Virginia in 1971, and became a counselor at Falls Church High School. In 1976 she was appointed an assistant principal at Falls Church. In 1989, she was appointed to her current position as principal of J.E.B. Stuart High School, a high school noted for its ethnic diversity and innovative programming. In 1995, Nancy was recognized for her priceless knowledge and skills by her election by her peers to the position of president of the Fairfax County High School Principals.

Nancy's numerous, notable accomplishments with the Fairfax County Public Schools has helped mold the future of the school system. Her participation in numerous conferences and seminars such as the NASSP Assessment Center Seminar, Family Life Education Advisory Committee and the Marketing Education Advisory Board has shaped the educational curriculum in our community. In particular, Nancy recently participated in the Workforce 2000 Advocacy Council to determine how best to equip our students for their future in our changing economy.

Nancy's membership in the Phi Delta Kappa Educational Fraternity, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the Association for Supervision of Curriculum & Development, and the Northern Virginia Secondary School Administrators Association has given her valuable knowledge and insight into the changing nature of education today.

Nancy has enriched our community through the many presentations she has given, and her team building skills, bringing business partnerships to her school and bringing an ethnically diverse community together. Nancy has offered a wide variety of material on counseling, the international baccalaureate, block scheduling and on the role of a principal. In particular, her seminar on violence prevention instructed schools on how to provide a safe and drug-free environment for learning.

Mr. Speaker, I know that my colleagues will join me in applauding Nancy Weisgerber for her extraordinary efforts to provide the citizens of Fairfax County a school system which brings quality education to our children. Although her presence will be sorely missed, we wish her great success in her future endeavors.