TITLE: Congratulating Dr. Gene Buinger on his retirement as superintendent of the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District.

SUMMARY: Congratulating Dr. Gene Buinger on his retirement as superintendent of the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Dr. Gene Buinger is retiring as superintendent of the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District on June 30, 2013, drawing to a close a notable tenure in education that has spanned more than four decades; and WHEREAS, A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Dr. Buinger credits the rigors of his military service for equipping him with the "mental toughness and perseverance" required to lead a school district; his own impressive academic foundation includes a bachelor's degree from Fort Hays State University, a master's degree from the University of Missouri at Kansas City, and a doctorate from Oklahoma State University; through the years, he has also participated in postgraduate opportunities at the University of Southern California and the Teacher's College at Columbia University; and WHEREAS, Dr. Buinger began his career in 1968 as a social studies teacher in Kansas City; he went on to gain administrative experience as a high school principal, and at the age of 33, he was named superintendent of a school district in Halstead, Kansas; he subsequently accepted posts in Odessa and Macon, Georgia, before joining H-E-B ISD in 1999; and WHEREAS, During his notable 14-year tenure with the district, Dr. Buinger implemented International Baccalaureate and the International Business Initiative and expanded the Schools of Choice program with Asian languages, Core Knowledge, Suzuki Strings, and Spanish Immersion; his guidance has also helped the district nearly eliminate the achievement gap as TAKS performance by African American, Hispanic, and economically disadvantaged students has increased by 20 percentage points in some areas since 2004; and WHEREAS, Gene Buinger's dedication, professionalism, and commitment to excellence have greatly benefited the students of Hurst-Euless-Bedford, and he may indeed reflect with pride on his accomplishments as he embarks on the next exciting chapter of his life; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby congratulate Dr. Gene Buinger on his retirement as superintendent of the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Dr. Buinger as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Stickland Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 803 was adopted by the House on March 20, 2013, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House