[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 176 (Tuesday, December 9, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2503]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO MS. MARGARET ANN ABDALLA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 8, 2003

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an outstanding citizen 
of California's 29th Congressional District, Margaret Ann Abdalla. Ms. 
Abdalla has served on the South Pasadena Unified School District Board 
of Education for 16 years and has been a positive force in the greater 
South Pasadena area for much longer.
  A Southern California native and University of Southern California 
graduate, Margaret Ann moved to South Pasadena in 1969. She began her 
community service by volunteering with the South Pasadena Parent 
Teacher Association, Little League, and South Pasadena Educational 
Foundation. Ms. Abdalla also raised three children, Lisa, Tony and 
Alex, all who attended South Pasadena's public schools.
  In 1987, Margaret Ann was elected to the South Pasadena Unified 
School District Board of Education. Ms. Abdalla has worked with several 
board members and four superintendents during her tenure, serving as 
Board President three times. Under her leadership, some of the Board's 
accomplishments include the passage of two school bond measures in 1995 
and 2002, the formation and bonding of today's administrative team, and 
the transition of the junior high to a middle school program 12 years 
ago. In 1996, Margaret Ann was the recipient of the South Pasadena 
Parent Teacher Association's Honorary Service Award for meritorious 
service.
  As a member of the South Pasadena School Board, Margaret Ann 
participated in organizations such as the California School Boards 
Association, the Downtown Revitalization Task Force and the Los Angeles 
Annenberg Metropolitan Project. In addition, Ms. Abdalla was a founding 
member of the Five-Star Coalition, a coalition of the Burbank, 
Glendale, La Canada Flintridge, Pasadena and South Pasadena School 
Districts, established for the purpose of collaborating with local 
legislators on issues of mutual interest to the school districts.
  The time, energy and love Margaret Ann has given to the community are 
extraordinary, and the residents of South Pasadena have benefited 
greatly. At this time, I ask all Members to join with me in commending 
Margaret Ann Abdalla for her many years of dedicated service to the 
South Pasadena community.

                          ____________________