[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 100 (Friday, June 15, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E850]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING THE RETIREMENT OF BERTHA ALICIA PENA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. FILEMON VELA

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 15, 2018

  Mr. VELA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Bertha Alicia Pena of 
Brownsville, TX for her outstanding contributions as a teacher and 
administrator for the past 32 years.
  In May 1974, Ms. Pena received her Associate of Arts from Texas 
Southmost College in Brownsville, TX. She graduated from Pan American 
University at Brownsville, Texas in May 1980 and received her Bachelor 
of Science in Elementary Education. Her passion for teaching drove her 
to pursue additional educational opportunities. She earned a Bilingual 
Certification in 1982 and a Master of Arts in Education Administration 
in 1990 from Pan American University.
  Ms. Pena's teaching career began in 1986 with the Brownsville 
Independent School District (BISD) as a Kindergarten teacher at Villa 
Nueva Elementary School. She also taught Gifted and Talented Second 
Grade, Fourth Grade, and Sixth Grade. Ms. Pena became the Assistant 
Principal at Faulk Intermediate School in 1990 and the Principal at 
Lopez High School in 1993. She served in that position until 1999, when 
she was appointed Area Assistant Superintendent for BISD.
  Her commitment to the educational success of underserved communities 
continued as she became Executive Director for Project Grad Brownsville 
from 2003 to 2005. The program, which was first implemented in the 
summer of 2003, includes the four-week Summer Bridge Program for 
incoming ninth graders. Most recently, she served as Assistant 
Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction at BISD.
  I thank Ms. Pena for her unending dedication to shaping the lives of 
countless young people. While many pursue careers in teaching, Ms. Pena 
viewed education not as a job, but a calling. She used her classroom 
experience to improve quality of education and expand opportunities for 
all students, and South Texas owes her a great debt of gratitude.
  Mr. Speaker, I honor Bertha Alicia Pena for her lifetime of public 
service. I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing her a happy 
retirement as we celebrate her great legacy of teaching and giving to 
our children and community.

                          ____________________