[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 82 (Monday, June 22, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1191]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING TERRI THOMSON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 22, 1998

  Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate 
Terri Thomson, on her swearing in as the Queens member of the New York 
City Board of Education. She is a dynamic and energetic individual, who 
will work tirelessly on behalf of the thousands of students in the New 
York City Public School System. Terri bagan working as a staff 
assistant in my Queens office when I served in the New York State 
Senate. I quickly became impressed with her work ethic, and her 
political savvy. Shortly after being elected to Congress in 1983, I 
promoted her to be my district administrator where she served with the 
utmost integrity and compassion until 1990. In this capacity, she made 
a difference in the lives of thousands of my constituents. Aside from 
being an invaluable political ally, she became the dearest of friends 
both to me and to my family.
  After leaving my office, she was hired by Citibank as the Director of 
Community Relations and was eventually promoted to be the Vice 
President of City and State Governmental Relations. At Citibank she 
helped school principals with professional training and worked to 
integrate new technology into the public school system. Moreover, she 
was able to introduce students to the Internet and demonstrated its 
application to commercial banking.
  Throughout her career, Terri has been deeply involved in the 
community. She also serves as the Vice Chair of the Brooklyn Sports 
Foundation, which seeks to create an indoor sports facility for the New 
York City Public School System. Terri has also been involved with the 
Queens Chamber of Commerce and the Queens Public Library where she 
sought to improve both economic and educational opportunities for the 
entire community.
  Terri's commitment to the community, her understanding of the issues, 
and her public and private sector experience make her uniquely 
qualified for a position on the New York City Board of Education. I am 
fully confident that she will be thoroughly equipped to grapple with 
the enormous complexities of the New York City Public School System. 
Thus, I ask all of my colleagues in the House of Representatives to 
join me in honoring this extraordinary individual whose dedication to 
the community will continue to make a significant difference in the 
lives of thousands of New Yorkers.

                          ____________________