[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 142 (Tuesday, October 21, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2039]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO TERESENA (TERRY) WISE BRYANT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 21, 1997

  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Ms. Teresena 
Wise Bryant, an outstanding individual who has dedicated her life to 
public service and education. She was honored on October 17 by parents, 
family, friends, and professionals for her outstanding contributions to 
the community at the Eighth Annual Salute to Excellence Awards Dinner 
hosted by the 163d Street Improvement Council, Inc. in New York.
  Born in Florida, Ms. Bryant, known as Terry by her friends, moved to 
New York City in 1964 after receiving a bachelor's degree from Florida 
A&M University. In 1977, she earned a master's degree in public 
administration at New York University. She has shown the importance of 
life-long learning as she has continued to take postgraduate courses in 
educational fields.
  Through her years of service, she worked for several governmental 
agencies. Her career started as an assistance bookkeeper with Standard 
Motors. Later she worked as a homebound instructor with the White 
Plains Board of Education before she was hired as a teacher of 
recreation in the New York City Board of Education/Continuing Education 
Division. Within 6 months, she was recommended and hired as director of 
community education, Mohegan Community Center/P.S. 67 in the Bronx. She 
went on to become assistance executive director of contract development 
for the Youth Board/Bureau/Youth Services Agency. In 1987, Terry 
returned to the New York City Board of Education as special assistant 
to the Bronx board member.
  Terry clearly believes that electoral politics is honorable public 
service. For 18 years, she was the campaign manager and confidential/
political assistant to the late State Senator Joseph L. Galiber and she 
managed the election campaign for Bronx District Attorney Robert 
Johnson, the first and only African-American district attorney in the 
State of New York. She is an expert in redistricting and 
reapportionment of Councilmanic, State Assembly, and senatorial as well 
as congressional lines.
  The business, professional, religious, and civil organizations to 
which she belonged, like the honors and awards she was given are almost 
beyond counting. Terry retired last year after a fruitful career in 
public service. Ms. Bryant leaves us with many lessons learned in 
community service, leadership in education, and wisdom. A talented 
leader and educator, Ms. Bryant will continue sharing her knowledge and 
views with her family and friends.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Ms. 
Teresena Wise Bryant for her outstanding achievements in education and 
her enduring commitment to the community.

                          ____________________