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Congressional Daily Record
This section is a tribute, commemoration, or district-facing statement. It mentions members such as Joe Courtney. Extensions of Remarks are statements submitted for the official record, even if they were not spoken live on the floor.
Issued
June 23, 2026
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Extensions of Remarks
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Download official Extensions PDFReturn to issue contextHON. JOE COURTNEY
of connecticut
in the house of representatives
Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and commend the service of a lifelong educator, Dr. Joseph Macary. He has served as the Superintendent of Vernon Public Schools for eleven years, where he successfully fostered an environment where students from preschool to 12th grade can succeed. This June, Dr. Macary's tenure will come to an end as he prepares to take on a new role as superintendent of Middletown Public Schools. His talented, energetic leadership, and commitment to community deserves the attention of the house in the permanent Congressional Record which I am pleased to share.
Dr. Macary was born in Waterbury, Connecticut to Lebanese-American parents who encouraged him to value and pursue the highest levels of educational excellence. Dr. Macary graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor's in political science and a minor in economics. He later earned a master's in teaching from Quinnipiac College, a sixth-year degree in Educational Leadership from Southern Connecticut State University, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Connecticut.
Dr. Macary began his career in the classroom at Crosby High School in Waterbury teaching social studies, serving as department chair, and as well as Athletic Director. He was recognized as Educator of the Year in 2014 by the Greater Waterbury Boys & Girls Club. He later transitioned to the administrative team at Wolcott Public Schools where he rose in the ranks to the position of Assistant Superintendent.
In 2015, Dr. Macary brought his talents to the Second Congressional District and stepped into the role of Superintendent of Vernon Public Schools. Under Dr. Macary's leadership, Vernon Public Schools reached new heights. He ushered innovations into educational material and Vernon students responded by scoring standardized exam results well above state averages. During the pandemic, Dr. Macary ensured that the town's $4 million share of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding was directed to keep schools open and ensure learning goals for students were met. On his watch, in 2020 Vernon's Northeast School was named National Blue Ribbon School, as was the Skinner Road School in 2023. In 2025, Vernon ranked first of 36 Alliance Districts in Connecticut and furthermore was the only Connecticut school system honored as a DALI (District Administration Leadership Institute) District of Distinction.
Dr. Macary has earned much recognition for his professional accomplishments while leading Vernon Public Schools. He was named Outstanding Superintendent in 2023 by the University of Connecticut's NEAG School Alumni Board and Superintendent of the Year by the Connecticut Association of Schools Superintendents. Dr. Macary has also served as Co-President of the Hartford Area Superintendent's Association and as mentor for the University of Connecticut Neag School of Education Executive Leadership Program. He was recently appointed by Governor Lamont to the Blue-Ribbon Commission on K-12 Education Funding and Accountability.
Mr. Speaker, as the Member serving the Second District of Connecticut, and a member of the U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee, and as a resident of Vernon, I have had the pleasure to visit all the town's schools with Dr. Macary, and seeing first hand his benign influence on the children of my neighbors and constituents who attend Vernon Public Schools. His personal interaction with students was joyful and authentic, which they clearly appreciated. On behalf of the U.S. House of Representatives and the American people, I ask my colleagues to express our deep admiration and gratitude for Dr. Macary's advocacy for successful strong public education. It is a bittersweet moment to see him leave my hometown, but I wish him well and look forward to witnessing his future success in his new position as he leads Middletown Public Schools. I join Dr. Macary's family, friends, and colleagues in wishing him all the best in his next chapter.