Analysis · Floor speech · beta

Kevin Kiley

Independent on Recognizing Firefighters from California's Third Congressional District 2026-09-03

315 words · 12 sentences · 16 clauses

Statement grade

Average 78 / 100

A score under 50 is red. Choose a measurement to see where it lost points and why; choose it again to clear.

Greeting 10%Claims 59%Anecdote 3%Positioning 15%Thanks 14%

This view breaks the statement into its steps and names what each one does.

Mr. Speaker, Greeting · 30 wordsI rise today to honor and congratulate Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools David Gordon on his upcoming plans to retire, following 21 years of leadership in the Sacramento educational community.¹Greeting Claims · 185 wordsSuperintendent Gordon leads an office which provides financial oversight and support services to 13 school districts and more than 235,000 students.² Superintendent Gordon holds a BA from Brandeis University and an EDM and certificate of advanced study in educational administration from Harvard University.³ His career in the field of educational leadership includes being appointed as the superintendent of the Elk Grove Unified School District, the State’s fourth largest school district, for 9 years.⁴ During this time, he was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Education to the National Assessment Governing Board, ⁵which oversees the Nation’s report card.⁶ He also served on the President’s Commission on Excellence in Special Education.⁷ Prior to his work in Elk Grove, he was the deputy superintendent for the California Department of Education.⁸ Additionally, Superintendent Gordon has served on numerous boards and commissions in California, including his current service as a Governor’s appointee to the State Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission.⁹ He also finds time to generously give back to his community through his volunteer work as a member of the board of trustees of the Sierra Health Foundation. Anecdote · 9 wordsI have gotten to know Dave over the years, AnecdotePositioning · 46 wordsand he is a widely admired leader in education in our communities. He has been an invaluable source of wisdom and guidance to me, and his leadership will be greatly missed, but I know that he will continue to contribute to our communities in many ways.Positioning Thanks · 45 wordsOn behalf of the United States House of Representatives and California’s Third Congressional District, I am honored to recognize Superintendent of Schools David Gordon’s long and distinguished service to the Sacramento educational community and wish he and his wife Deborah the very best in retirement.Thanks

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 55

7 of 7 deductions are Signal

Signal checks whether every part makes a point, gives a reason, or asks for action. A low score means the speaker filled time with fluff, pleasantries, or attacks.

Greetings and pleasantries.What the tags mean “I rise today to honor and congratulate Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools David Gordon on his upcoming plans to retire, following 21 years of leadership in the Sacramento educational community.”A greeting: no claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “I have gotten to know Dave over the years,”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “and he is a widely admired leader in education in our communities.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “He has been an invaluable source of wisdom and guidance to me,”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “and his leadership will be greatly missed,”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “but I know that he will continue to contribute to our communities in many ways.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “On behalf of the United States House of Representatives and California’s Third Congressional District, I am honored to recognize Superintendent of Schools David Gordon’s long and distinguished service to the Sacramento educational community and wish he and his wife Deborah the very best in retirement.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · no score

Not applicable: nothing to answer. Excluded from the average.

Relevance checks whether the speaker stays on topic and answers the question asked. A low score means the speaker dodged the issue.

Reasoning · no score

No score: nothing is concluded. Excluded from the average.

Reasoning checks for sound logic and solid support for any conclusion. A low score means the speaker made unsupported leaps or used weak arguments.

Conclusions found · 0

None: nothing is concluded.

Respect · no score

Not checked: graded before this measurement existed. Excluded from the average.

Respect checks whether the speaker argued with people’s positions and records rather than attacking the people: insults, mockery, or bad motives assigned to them. Criticism of what someone did, however strong, is not marked.

Clarity · 100

0 of 7 deductions are Clarity

Clarity checks for plain speaking, clear ownership of actions, and honest limits on certainty. A low score means vague promises or evasive language.

Nothing lost points.

Claims · 9

This list shows the factual statements you can check for yourself: the words as said, and the claim restated to stand on its own.

1“upcoming plans to retire, following 21 years of leadership in the Sacramento educational community”Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools David Gordon plans to retire after 21 years in Sacramento educational leadership.search
2“provides financial oversight and support services to 13 school districts and more than 235,000 students”The Sacramento County Office of Education provides financial oversight and support services to 13 school districts and more than 235,000 students.search
3“holds a BA from Brandeis University and an EDM and certificate of advanced study in educational administration from Harvard University”David Gordon holds a BA from Brandeis University and an EDM and a certificate of advanced study in educational administration from Harvard University.search
4“being appointed as the superintendent of the Elk Grove Unified School District, the State’s fourth largest school district, for 9 years”David Gordon served for 9 years as superintendent of the Elk Grove Unified School District, which is California’s fourth largest school district.search
5“appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Education to the National Assessment Governing Board”David Gordon was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Education to the National Assessment Governing Board.search
6“which oversees the Nation’s report card”The National Assessment Governing Board oversees the Nation’s report card (the National Assessment of Educational Progress).search
7“He also served on the President’s Commission on Excellence in Special Education.”David Gordon served on the President’s Commission on Excellence in Special Education.search
8“he was the deputy superintendent for the California Department of Education”David Gordon served as deputy superintendent of the California Department of Education before his work in Elk Grove.search
9“current service as a Governor’s appointee to the State Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission”David Gordon currently serves on the California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission as a Governor’s appointee.search

Analyzed on 2026-09-16