The publication is reproduced in full below:
IN CELEBRATION OF PATRICIA ``PATTIE'' MANSUR'S SERVICE TO KANSAS CITY
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
______
HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER
of missouri
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, April 14, 2021
Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today with immense appreciation for Patricia ``Pattie'' Mansur's years of service to the students and community of Kansas City, Missouri as a member of the Kansas City Public School Board. Over the last several years, Pattie has demonstrated the passion, integrity, and determination that we hope the students whom she served will emulate as they become leaders in their own right.
Pattie's time on the School Board is a testament to what can be accomplished when concerned citizens engage with their community to overcome difficult issues. When Pattie enrolled her children into Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS), she recognized that its teachers and students were burdened as a consequence of dwindling revenues, inequitable opportunities, and transient leadership. Instead of simply lamenting those problems, Pattie set about building coalitions, engaging the community, and eventually, winning an at-large seat on the School Board. During her time in office, Pattie worked hard to build a strong foundation that future School Boards will expand upon for years to come. She helped recruit Dr. Mark Bedell, an administrator dedicated to equality in education, to serve as the superintendent. Dr. Bedell, along with Pattie and other Board members, secured the stability and leadership necessary for the district to implement a one-of-a-kind equity policy that has provided additional resources to chronically underfunded schools. Pattie also worked to increase the number of AP and dual-credit courses offered across KCPS high schools, ensuring that all students had the ability to earn college credit while attending high school. She engaged with private businesses to build and renovate existing fields, stadiums, and other venues so that every student has the opportunity to participate in sports and other extra-curricular activities. Recognizing that we communicate our values by how we spend our dollars, Pattie fought for increased teacher pay and further investment in new technologies that have helped educators connect with the next generation of students. As the district celebrated noticeable improvements in graduation rates and college readiness, she was a champion in the fight for full accreditation from the Missouri Department of Early and Secondary Education. Inspired by their mother's advocacy and her dedication to serving Kansas City's students, one of Pattie's three beloved children is now a teacher in the KCPS system. These accomplishments not only had a positive impact on children currently enrolled in KCPS, but will also continue to generate equitable opportunities for the next generations of KCPS students.
In addition to her stellar efforts on the School Board, Pattie has further served the Kansas City community through a number of non-profit organizations. She continues to serve as the Director of Health Policy and Communications for the REACH Healthcare Foundation, which works to improve access to healthcare for uninsured and underserved communities. As Director, she's advocated for policies in both Jefferson City and Washington, D.C. that would address systemic and deeply rooted inequities in the healthcare system. Recently, her tireless work at REACH helped the organization mobilize 29 local healthcare providers in an effort to strengthen the community's fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The REACH Foundation, and by extension those the foundation serves, has benefitted immensely from Pattie's three decades of proven leadership in the non-profit sector.
Marian Wright Edelman, a renowned advocate for children and founder of the Children's Defense Fund, once elegantly noted that working in education comes with a momentous duty to improve the lives of others and leave your community better than you found it. As Pattie's time on the School Board concludes, she can rest assured that KCPS students have more opportunities, are succeeding at higher rates, and have brighter futures because of her efforts. Madam Speaker, please join me in extending heartfelt and sincere congratulations to Pattie Mansur on a successful and accomplished tenure on the Kansas City Public School Board. Furthermore, let us renew our commitment to students as we strengthen our nation by investing in equitable, inclusive, and innovative public schools.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 64
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
House Representatives' salaries are historically higher than the median US income.
Alerts Sign-up