[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 166 (Tuesday, October 30, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2279]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO MARY BERGAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 30, 2007

  Mr. BERMAN. Madam Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to my good 
friend Mary Bergan for over 35 years of service to the California 
Federation of Teachers (CFT), and for her tireless work to protect the 
rights of teachers and students and promote excellence in education.
  From the time I was first elected to the California State Assembly 
and Mary was chosen Legislative Director of CTA, we have worked 
together on numerous legislative matters. I have enormous admiration 
and appreciation for her work. Over and over again in Sacramento and in 
Washington, I have sought Mary's advice on key educational reform and 
finance issues.
  Mary received her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of 
California at Berkeley in 1965, and upon graduation, entered the Peace 
Corps. She was sent to Tunku Kurshiah College in Serenban Negri 
Sembilan, Malaysia, to teach English and literature. Upon returning to 
the United States, she became an English teacher at Hillview Junior 
High School in Pittsburg, California. She became involved with the 
local American Federation of Teachers (AFTA) and was elected President. 
She was such an outstanding teacher and effective union leader that 
only 3 years later, she was offered a staff position as field organizer 
with the CFT.
  Mary's work in the field of education advocacy is legendary. She 
represented CFT on various task forces and committees through both the 
California Department of Education and the Chancellor's Office of the 
California Community Colleges. She served on the Chapter 2 Advisory 
Committee, the Advisory Committee on Student Assessment, and task 
forces on educational finance, credential requirements, school 
restructuring and higher education reforms. She wrote and secured 
passage of key legislation ensuring the rights of female students and 
staff in California schools and colleges. Her incredible effectiveness 
earned her the admiration and respect of her colleagues.
  In 1990, Mary was elected a Vice President of the California Labor 
Federation, AFL-CIO, and in 1991, was elected CFT President. Through 
the years, she has held numerous leadership positions with AFT, where 
she was instrumental in instituting important advances in childhood 
education and health care reform. Also, during the 1980s, she chaired 
the California Democratic Party's Labor Caucus and she was a delegate 
to the Democratic National Conventions in 1976, 1992, 1996, 2000 and 
2004.
  Madam Speaker, Distinguished Colleagues, I ask you to join me today 
in saluting Mary Bergan, a champion of teachers' rights and public 
school education. Her dedication and selflessness are an inspiration to 
us all.

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