[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 96 (Friday, July 21, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1288-E1289]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING MRS. ADRIANA G. FIGUEROA OF SAN GABRIEL, CALIFORNIA, 
          CELEBRATING HER RETIREMENT FROM 37 YEARS OF TEACHING

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MATTHEW G. MARTINEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 20, 2000

  Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, today I convey my heartfelt 
congratulations to Mrs. Adriana Figueroa on her retirement. Mrs 
Figueroa has dedicated the last 37 years of her life to our community 
as a public educator, and has exemplified the best in public service.
  Mrs. Figueroa was bom on March 2, 1940 in Los Angeles, California, 
and was raised in East Los Angeles. She attended St. Alphonsus 
Elementary School in Los Angeles and Sacred Heart of Mary High School 
in Montebello. She graduated from California State University, Los 
Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and Social Sciences, 
and after graduation, completed course work for a General Secondary 
California State Teaching Credential. She received her Masters in 
Education from Azusa Pacific University.
  Her admirable career began at Alhambra High School in 1963 as a 
classroom English teacher teaching ninth, tenth, and eleventh grade 
students. In 1974, she accepted a position as an Adult Basic Educator 
(ABE) with the Los Angeles Unified School District, teaching adults to 
read and write. That decision changed the direction of her career, and 
from that moment forward, she would make a difference by bringing 
literacy, high school diplomas, and vocational training to adults who 
were in need.
  After receiving her administrative credential in 1979, Mrs. Figueroa 
was named the site Coordinator for the Mid City ABE center, a branch of 
Belmont Adult School in downtown Los Angeles.
  In 1986, it was our good fortune that she was brought to Baldwin Park 
to impact the

[[Page E1289]]

lives of adults and young people in the San Gabriel Valley. Mrs. 
Figueroa came to Baldwin Park Unified School District Adult and 
Community Education (BPACE) program as an Administrative Assistant. 
Today, she is retiring as the Assistant Director of Adult and Community 
Education and is responsible for administration of the BPACE program.
  Mrs. Figueroa lives in San Gabriel with her husband Jim and has three 
children and three stepchildren. Her greatest joy is her grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, Adriana Figueroa has had a remarkable career, one in 
which her enthusiasm and dedication to public education has made a 
difference in countless lives. Our community is extremely proud of her 
accomplishments. Let us send our sincerest appreciation for her fine 
work and recognize her for contributing to public education.
  I commend her for her achievements and hope she enjoys her 
retirement.

                          ____________________