A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Today, we recognize 12 Americans who never sought recognition...we honor 12 Americans who never asked to be honored...we call 12 Americans "heroes" who never believed that what they were doing was heroic. Today, we pay tribute to these "education heroes" because their deeds inspire us, rouse us to action, and summon us to our highest civic duty.

JAMES KETELSON is the retired chairman of the board of Tenneco, Inc. In 1993, he founded Project GRAD, which stands for "Graduation Really Achieves Dreams," which encourages students to study hard and prepare for college. He personally went around to the schools of Houston, Texas, to hand-deliver material about the program, and encouraged other corporations to participate. Ultimately, the program spread to six feeder systems in the city, serving about 60,000 students in some of the city's poorest areas.

It was an extraordinary example of how one dedicated individual can bring real hope to young people. Today, Project GRAD has spread to several other cities. Recently, President Clinton visited Project GRAD students in Newark, New Jersey, and this is what he had to say: "This is an unbelievable program...Project GRAD students know-because of those who've been involved in this effort-that they can go to college, they can live their dreams, and they can have a chance in America...". Thank you for making dreams come true, Jim.

Twelve years ago, ORAL LEE BROWN promised a group of first-graders in Oakland, California, that she would help them through school, and then help them pay for college. Oral Lee put money aside each year. She also put in long, hard days running her business and tending to the children. Once, she confronted a student who was skipping class. The girl said, "You don't understand what I go through." Oral Lee replied, "I came out of Mississippi. I picked cotton." The girl went back to class.

Four years from now, Oral Lee plans to attend the children's college graduations. "When my babies walk across that stage," she has said, "then they can just lay me down and let me die." Well, you can lay down for a rest, Oral Lee, but there are still a lot of babies out there who need you.

CORETTA LEONA McFERREN is one of the Chicagoans who has led the fight to turn around the public school system in our nation's second largest city. After operating a halfway house and working on drug recovery programs, Coretta helped write the landmark school reform legislation that gave new hope to Chicago's 400,000 public-school children.

Today, thanks to Coretta and other pioneers, Chicago is proving that we can improve our big-city schools. Chicago is the "city of big shoulders," and Coretta is carrying a lot of children and families on her shoulders, and we thank her for that.

JOHN JORDAN "BUCK" O'NEIL is a legendary ballplayer who twice led the Negro American League in batting. Today, he is head of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Mo.

He never got the chance to play in the Major Leagues, but the dream that really eluded him was the chance to get a good education. He wanted to attend high school and college in Florida, but was told the high school was for "white kids only." Years later, he would say, "Baseball was a job, but...education...is a whole life. They denied me a chance to get an education because of only one reason-my beautiful tan."

Determined to help other kids realize their educational dreams, Buck has worked to develop partnerships between the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and schools. Students develop projects around Negro League history that help them improve their writing and artistic skills, and that teach them about race relations and the history and culture of our nation. Thank you, Buck, for turning your struggle into something positive for yourself and so many others.

When principal WENDOLYN NORRIS-BOUIE arrived at Gresham Park Elementary School in Atlanta in 1996, she found poor student achievement, crime around the school, a school building in disrepair, low teacher morale, and very little parental participation. So she literally got down on her hands and knees and went to work. She scrubbed toilets, painted walls, raised money, and enlisted the support of local churches and businesses.

The changes have been dramatic. Now the school is attractive and safe, the children dress in school uniforms to avoid conflicts, and they recite a daily pledge to put forth positive effort and treat others with respect. Reading and math scores have gone up, and discipline problems have gone down. Thank you, Wendolyn, for showing us how to get the job done.

MARY DORN is a "super" school volunteer at Monument Valley High School in Utah. One morning she jumped out of bed to help push a student's motorcycle down the street-while she was still in her robe and slippers. She has driven a two-ton flatbed truck loaded with the student band at the Homecoming parade. She spent $1,000 of her own money to replace a burned-out popcorn machine. She even fed the school's new baby lambs when their mother seemed uninterested in parental involvement. She does all of this and more, yet she won't accept a dollar for her work. When anyone suggests paying her, she replies, "No. If you are paying me, I might have to do whatever you say, and I just might not want to." But Mary just can't say no to anyone in need. Our schools need a million more like her.

THE REV. WESLEY D. WILLIAMS has touched the hearts and lives of countless Bostonians. At a time when many people in our country want to abandon public education and be bridge-burners, Rev. Williams is a bridge-builder. He has brought together people of all faiths to improve Boston's public schools.

His Interfaith Volunteers promote positive values and character education. Rev. Williams has also led the fight to improve education for Latino children. He helped to develop a model violence prevention initiative. And at a time when research is telling us that students who get involved in the arts do better in math and other academic subjects, he has established a music education program. The late Cardinal Bernadin, a good friend of mine, once wrote that "it is wrong to waste the precious gift of time given to us on acrimony and division." The life of Rev. Williams reminds us of what we can accomplish when we spend the precious gift of time on caring and cooperation.

HELEN HENDERSON, CAROLYN PATTON, AND DIANE TURNER believe in the following credo of African-American culture: If one experiences success, "go back and help someone else." It would have been easy for Diane to end her involvement in school after her sons graduated from Decatur High School in Federal Way, Washington. But she wanted to go back and help. So she joined Helen and Carolyn to form a support group for African-American students.

The three visit Decatur High to talk to students. Diane says, "We try to give them what we call 'mother talk.' We can say things in a way that can cut out all the excuses." Helen noticed that African-American students are sometimes more responsive to college and career information that she gives them, even though it's the same material that school counselors distribute. Helen, Carolyn, and Diane are reaching students as only they can. They have truly "gone back"-to help others move forward.

SANDRA ZELNO is a leader who welcomes the toughest challenges. She works for a consortium in Pennsylvania that is striving to improve education in some of the poorest school districts in the state.

For over a quarter of a century, Sandra has also worked tirelessly with the PTA. She has focused on mobilizing parents to be a driving force not only in improving their own children's education, but in improving the public school system in our nation.

Sandra has also been a tireless advocate for children. After a student was shot, Sandra worked to implement a character education program in 5 school districts. The program emphasizes honesty, courage, loyalty, justice, respect, hope, and love. No wonder she is a heroine to the parents, teachers, and children of Pennsylvania.

LISA BELZBERG is proving that New York City is filled with people who have a lot more heart than the characters on "Seinfeld." As the head of the "Principal for a Day" program, Lisa has brought thousands of the city's leading citizens into the schools, and it has been an eye-opening experience for them. For example, when VH1 President John Sykes participated, he said, "I walked into that school expecting to see asbestos hanging from the ceiling and metal detectors. Instead, I saw the fifth-grade orchestra playing Beethoven."

The program has generated major partnerships among the schools and the business and arts communities. Fashion designer Norma Kamali has created part-time jobs for students. A health provider created scholarships and health-care training programs. A cable network developed a youth video festival. And so far, the corporate community has donated 1.6 million new books for library and classroom use.

I was once a "principal for a day" at a school in Brooklyn. And I can tell you that it's easier to be Secretary of Education for a year than a principal for a day. That's a tough job!

Lisa couldn't be here today because she is at home with her newborn baby. We send her and her husband, Matthew, our heartiest congratulations on their blessed event.

These are the winners of the John Stanford Education Heroes Award. They are named for the late, beloved superintendent of schools in Seattle, Washington, who did so much for education in that city. The winners you see here today represent the millions of other Americans who work hard every day to improve education in our country. They know that no one stands taller than when he or she stoops down to help a child.

And today, the 12 winners of the John Stanford Education Heroes Award stand tallest of all. Thank you very much.

Last Updated -- [11/19/99] (etn)