[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 85 (Monday, May 22, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1090]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       TRIBUTE TO JOSE M. GRACIANO

                                 ______


                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 22, 1995
  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, May 19, 1995 a group of 
dedicated public school educators gathered in my congressional district 
to honor one of their distinguished colleagues, Jose M. Graciano.
  Mr. Graciano has been the principal of P.S. 5 since 1971 and has 
earned the distinction of being the longest serving public school 
principal in Community School District Seven. His record of 
accomplishment at P.S. 5 is truly impressive; he has brought more than 
two dozen different enrichment programs into his school. We are 
particularly proud of Mr. Graciano for his accomplishment in creating 
the first bilingual pre-kindergarten program in the Nation, a title VII 
grant Project PROBE. Under his leadership, P.S. 5 was designated a 
model bilingual school, recognizing the successes of such programs as 
the Bilingual Teacher Corps, Project SABE, Project BETA and CSIP.
  Mr. Graciano is an active member of his community and his hard work 
has earned him numerous awards and recognitions including the Educator 
of the Year award from the Hispanic Educators Association, the 
Community Service Award from the Association Civica Arecibeno, the P.S. 
5 Parent Teacher Association Award, the Ramon S. Velez Scholarship 
Committee Leadership Award and the P.S. 5 Parent Teacher Association 
20th Anniversary Award.
  Mr. Speaker, the residents of my district, Hispanic Americans 
everywhere, and indeed the entire Nation are the beneficiaries of such 
lifelong dedication to the education of our youth, and in particular of 
those often-disadvantaged youngsters who grow up in our inner city 
communities. I ask my colleagues to join me in conveying best wishes 
and deep gratitude to Mr. Jose M. Graciano.


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