[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 55 (Tuesday, April 17, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E548-E549]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING MARIA ANTONIA ``TONI'' JUAREZ

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY CUELLAR

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 17, 2012

  Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the late Maria 
Antonia ``Toni'' Juarez, a devoted teacher and friend to the community 
in South Texas. Ms. Juarez modeled the virtue of charity throughout her 
lifetime and the impact of her care for children and those in need will 
resonate even after her passing.
  As a Laredo native, Ms. Juarez was active in the community. At the 
young age of six, she was already involved in assisting her parish, San 
Jose Church by teaching catechism. Her Saturday mornings were dedicated 
to cleaning the Church and her evenings were spent practicing choir or 
participating in meetings devoted to Saint Theresa. She graduated from 
Saint Augustine High School in 1953 where she met her husband, Beto 
Juarez and married a year after graduation.
  Ms. Juarez resumed her education at the University of Texas between 
1967 and 1969 while serving as Preschool Head Teacher in

[[Page E549]]

the City of Austin Child Development Program. Her family, including her 
six children and husband spent another academic year, 1969 1970, in 
Guadalajara. While in Mexico, she continued to catalogue archival 
materials and to serve as preschool consultant and trainer at the 
American School of Guadalajara and completed Montessori training by 
correspondence. The couple and their six children then moved to Davis, 
California from 1970 to 1975 where she was offered the job of Preschool 
Head Teacher. In 1975 she was appointed Regional Education Coordinator 
at Woodland for the Butte County Schools. Even though she was working 
full-time, she managed to obtain her Bachelor of Arts degree in Child 
Development from Sacramento State University in 1974.
  In 1975, the family returned to Laredo where Ms. Juarez was appointed 
Child Development Program Director for the city of Laredo. She became a 
full-time graduate student thereafter and earned her Master of Arts 
degree in Early Childhood Education and Reading from Laredo State 
University in 1987. Her work as a kindergarten teacher at United 
Independent School District in 1987 1988 was one of the most enriching 
experiences. Offered a position as adjunct instructor at Laredo State 
University, she jumped at the chance of training future teachers to 
carry out the work she loves in child development.
  One of Ms. Juarez's greatest commitments was her contribution to the 
Laredo Children's Museum Board of Trustees, having served as a member 
of the board since the early 1990s. Simultaneously, she was devoted to 
teaching religious courses to San Martin de Porres Church and Adult 
Education and Ministry Formation for the Diocese of Laredo until her 
passing.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to have had the opportunity to recognize 
the late Antonia ``Toni'' Juarez. Her devotion to children, her family 
and the community have truly impacted many lives.

                          ____________________