[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 218 (Monday, December 21, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1192-E1193]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING THERESA SCHUTA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 21, 2020

  Mr. HIGGINS of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
significant contributions of Theresa ``Terri'' Schuta, one of my 
closest friends as well as a true leader within the Buffalo Public 
Schools and the South Buffalo community she has so diligently served, 
on the occasion of her retirement as Principal of South Park High 
School.
  A proud product of the Buffalo Public Schools, Terri returned to the 
halls of the schools we walked together as classmates throughout the 
1970's as the Principal of Southside Elementary School for seven years 
until her appointment as South Park High School Principal in 2009. 
Rising through the administrative ranks, she also gained experience as 
the assistant principal at Lorraine Elementary.
  In the profile of Mrs. Schuta following her appointment, The Buffalo 
News headline got it just right when it said ``Community roots anchor 
new principal to South Park,'' Calling herself a neighborhood kid, 
Terri said, ``Someone needs to lead South Park who loves South Park. I 
think that is going to resonate with the kids.''
  As Principal, Mrs. Schuta has more than resonated--she initiated, 
innovated and when necessary, intimidated, to deliver quality 
educational opportunities for her students, their families, her faculty 
and staff. She introduced new programs into her school, fought for more 
resources, stood up for her students and demanded more from them as 
well as herself to better prepare her students to achieve and succeed.
  Terri brought the same energy, enthusiasm, tenacity and work ethic I 
saw in her as our 1978 class president with her every day as South Park 
High School Principal. She led the way in building partnerships with 
local businesses and non-profits and now as a designated Community 
School, South Park students and their families benefit from enhanced 
learning opportunities, parent engagement and healthy living 
experiences. She has been a source of positive change in the city's 
education system as a whole and has impacted the lives of both her 
students and colleagues.
  Terri's enormous contribution to South Park High School has not gone 
unnoticed. In fact, she has been recognized for fostering 
accountability in the high school, which resulted in a 10 percent 
increase in its graduation rate over the past several years. She also 
pioneered the Bright Lights of South Park program. This project 
highlights successful South Park graduates as a source of inspiration 
for current students. Students can then use that inspiration as 
motivation for their academic work and to live up to their full 
potential. She oversaw the well-received and extensive building 
renovation project, the successful 100th Anniversary Celebration 
including the 2016 release of ``Our Fallen Warriors, Remembered,'' a 
timeline of more than 150 of our bravest during their experiences as 
South Park students through their loss of life in service to our 
country.
  Amazingly, Terri has always found time for others as she is an active 
and passionate community volunteer. Terri was awarded the 
organization's Campaign Volunteer of the Year award in 2019 in 
recognition of outstanding commitment to the United Way. Her 
professional achievements and personal contributions earned her well-
deserved recognition as one of 42 extraordinary women featured in the 
book, ``Women in The City of Good Neighbors.''
  Her work with United Way, local charities and families in need has 
positively impacted and inspired so many individuals as she personifies 
the values of faith, friendship and service others instilled in her as 
a member of the Drilling Family of Lilac Street. She and her husband, 
Michael Schuta, a retired Buffalo Police Officer, continue that 
tradition of service with their daughter, Katie, who has followed in 
Terri's footsteps as the principal of the Buffalo Public Schools' 
school of culinary arts and management. Katie and husband, Jonathon 
Whiteside, have recently had a son, Joseph Michael Whiteside, adding 
proud grandmother to Terri's many titles. Their son, Michael, holds an 
MBA and works as a senior accountant at PCB Piezotronics in 
Cheektowaga, New York.
  Madam Speaker, I am so proud of all Terri Schuta has accomplished, 
the indelible mark she has made in uplifting the lives of her

[[Page E1193]]

South Park High School family and the legacy she has left for others to 
follow in school and in the community. Her spirit, steady leadership 
and unwavering belief in the value of ``doing your life's work where 
you live,'' is her legacy and an example for others to follow. I look 
forward to years of continued friendship and wish Terri much happiness 
and fulfillment in her retirement. I have no doubt that she will find 
that and more with her loving family and friends in the years ahead.

                          ____________________