For more information, contact:
                                                                                                  Denise L. Berkhalter
                                                                                  dberkhalter@alabamaschoolboards.org

AASB Honors Congressman Artur Davis
For Outstanding Service

BIRMINGHAM, AL – (December 9, 2006) – U.S. Representative Artur Davis is being honored this week with the Alabama Association of School Boards’ Congressional Award for his advocacy on behalf of public schoolchildren and public education in Alabama and the nation.

The Congressional Award will be presented during AASB’s annual convention in Birmingham, acknowledging Davis’ leadership and fairness in his position as the representative of Alabama’s 7th Congressional District and as a member of the Financial Services and Budget committees. The award will be presented during the closing general session, which begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at The Wynfrey Hotel.

“Artur Davis has made the success of Alabama’s public schools and schoolchildren a national priority,” said AASB President Jim Methvin.  “He is extremely knowledgeable about our issues and always welcomes local school board member input.  Our members have been impressed by his detailed understanding of the challenges they face.”

AASB Executive Director Dr. Sandra Sims-deGraffenried lauded Davis’ excellent voting record and understanding of how vital federal education dollars are. “He has been strongly supportive of AASB’s and the National School Boards Association’s legislative agendas.  In fact, he informed us he would support more far-reaching agendas and change in the right political climate.  For his genuine determination and studied resolve to help our public schools, we are most appreciative.”

Davis was elected into the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002 and has emerged as a leader on issues related to education, housing and health care. A product of the Montgomery County public schools, he graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1990 and cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1993. He has also been recognized by the Washington Post, the National Journal and CNN as one of the future leaders to watch in Washington.

Prior to his congressional career, Davis was a civil rights attorney. He clerked with U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson, one of the first African-American judges appointed to the federal bench in Alabama.  Davis later became an assistant U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Alabama.

More than 400 local education leaders attended the Dec. 7-9 convention themed “Critical Issues for Critical Times: Looking Beyond the Horizon.” The event at The Wynfrey Hotel covered issues that impact student performance as well as sessions designed to improve participants’ leadership skills.

AASB represents all of the state’s local public school boards.  Founded in 1949, the association works to preserve local lay control of education. It is headquartered in Montgomery and provides members with an array of services, including boardmanship training, risk-management programs and policy research.

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