[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 48 (Thursday, March 19, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E714-E715]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      A TRIBUTE TO JOYLENE WAGNER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 19, 2009

  Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Joylene Wagner 
of Glendale, California. Every March we celebrate Women's History Month 
in recognition of the contributions and the sacrifices made by our 
nation's women. Accordingly it is my privilege to highlight Mrs. Wagner 
as a woman whose extraordinary efforts are vital to my district.
  Born and raised in Monrovia, California, Joylene graduated in 1976 
from University of California, Santa Cruz with a degree in Western 
Civilization and continued on to the University of San Diego's Legal 
Assistant program. During her five years working as a litigation 
paralegal in San Diego and later in Los Angeles, she served on the 
founding board of the San Diego Association of Legal Assistants and in 
the La Jolla University/Community Chorus and Orchestra Association.
  Joylene and her husband Robert moved to Glendale in 1981, where they 
both became active in the Adams Hill Homeowners Association. They are 
very proud of their 3 children, who all attended Glendale schools. 
Their daughter Meg now teaches children with autism in Fairfax County, 
Virginia, son Will serves on the staff of Senator Arlen Specter, and 
son Nick will graduate from Glendale High School this year.
  Since 1985, in addition to singing in the First United Methodist 
Church choir, Joylene has split her time between volunteering in the 
schools and community and working part-time

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teaching children's choral music either at church, in Glendale 
elementary schools, or at the Los Angeles Children's Chorus. Her 
community involvement has included serving on the boards of Glendale 
Healthy Kids, Verdugo Workforce Investment, Los Angeles County School 
Trustees Association, and the League of Women Voters, as well as on the 
Glendale Arts and Culture Commission.
  Before her election to the Glendale Unified School District Board of 
Education in 2005, Joylene worked locally as a substitute teacher and 
completed graduate work in education. She has since served as the 
Board's President, working to find ways to enrich and increase student 
learning through arts instruction and career-technical education 
opportunities. In the face of drastic state funding cuts and in an 
effort to ensure budgetary support for educational priorities, Joylene 
has facilitated creative, courageous, and cooperative community 
conversations about what is most essential for student success.
  Joylene's steadfast dedication and selfless service are an invaluable 
addition to the legacy of Women's History Month. With gratitude and 
admiration, I ask all Members of Congress to join me in honoring an 
extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Mrs. 
Joylene Wagner.

                          ____________________