Archive-Name: gov/us/fed/congress/record/2000/feb/01/2000CRE51A
[Congressional Record: February 1, 2000 (Extensions)]
[Page E51-E52]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr01fe00-49]                        

      GREAT PROGRAM NATIONAL PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR, DENNIS DEARDEN

                                 ______

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 1, 2000

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to recognize
Principal Dennis Dearden. He is a man that has worked very hard to
reduce the numbers of gangs and violence in schools across the State of
Colorado. Recently, his work was rewarded when he was named the
National Principal of the Year.
  Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) program, backed by the
United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, teaches students
how to resolve conflicts, avoid peer pressure and set personal goals.
It also helps the students to understand cultural differences and how
gangs negatively impact the quality of life.
  As a result of the program implemented by Dennis, violence declined
tremendously at

[[Page E52]]

Mount Garfield and drug-related calls to law enforcement dropped from
34 to zero. These astounding figures appeared in a report presented to
Congress in support of the GREAT program.
  Dennis was nominated for the award by Colorado State Trooper and
Western Slope Coordinator of GREAT, Don Moseman. His nomination was
chosen out of more than 3,000 principals across the nation.
  It is with this, Mr. Speaker, that I say thank you to Principal
Dennis Dearden for his dedication to our youth and the fight he has
waged against gangs and violence. In addition, to our thanks, Dennis
deserves our congratulations on being named Principal of the Year.
Clearly, Dennis is eminently deserving of this high honor.

                          ____________________