[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Pages 5736-5737]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                      CONGRATULATING SALLY WAGNER

 Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, too often we forget or take for 
granted just how important teachers are. I try not to do that because I 
married one. But the positive impact teachers have on our youth and on 
society is incalculable. Today, I would like to take a moment to 
acknowledge one outstanding teacher who is retiring after a 
distinguished 40-year career--the last 34 years of which have been 
spent at Eleanor Roosevelt High School, ERHS, in Greenbelt, MD--Ms. 
Sally S. Wagner. Ms. Wagner is the chair of the Instrumental Music 
Department at ERHS. In 2005, a Washington Post article took note of Ms. 
Wagner's extraordinary achievements as an educator noting, ``The school 
[ERHS] has several legendary teachers, including band director Sally 
Wagner . . . and a 750-student musical juggernaut with so many 
ensembles and bands that one can barely keep count.''
  For the past several years, we have been properly involved in an 
effort to improve so-called STEM education in this country. That 
acronym stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. 
Bolstering STEM education is important for economic competitiveness, 
national security, and keeping America at the forefront of the 
technological changes that will make

[[Page 5737]]

life better for all of humanity. But too many schools, grappling with 
budget cuts, have scaled back or even eliminated their arts and music 
curricula. Fortunately, there is burgeoning awareness of the importance 
of these courses, too. And now people are talking about STEAM, where 
the ``A'' stands for arts and music. All of these subjects are 
interrelated and complementary. After all, it was Albert Einstein who 
said, ``The greatest scientists are artists as well'' and who would 
play the violin or piano for intuition or inspiration when he became 
``stuck'' on one of his formulas or equations.
  Fortunately for the students at ERHS, which is an outstanding science 
and technology school, by the way, the music program has always been 
robust, too, and Ms. Wagner has been in charge. Her career in music 
began when she was a child, with piano lessons. In the sixth grade, she 
started learning how to play the trombone. She ultimately earned her 
degrees from Michigan State University and the University of Delaware. 
Teaching and bands are her passion. In 2001, Ms. Wagner was cited in 
School Band and Orchestra Magazine as one of ``50 Directors Who Make a 
Difference'' and she received the Maryland Music Educators Association 
Outstanding Music Teacher Award. In 2006, Ms. Wagner received the 
National Honor Society Outstanding Teacher Award and the Claes Nobel 
Educator of Distinction Award. Claes Nobel--the grand-nephew of Alfred 
Nobel--established the National Society of High School Scholars, which 
made the award.
  Ms. Wagner is a Music Educators National Conference, MENC--now known 
as the National Association for Music Education, or NAfME, Nationally 
Registered Music Educator. She received the Prince George's County 
Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Educator Award, Excellence in Teaching 
Awards from Prince George's County Public Schools, the County Council, 
the Maryland House of Delegates and the Governor of Maryland, and was 
recognized in 1994 by the University of Maryland Center for Teaching 
Excellence.
  Ms. Wagner is a member of MENC/NAfME, the Women Band Directors 
International, the Maryland Music Educators Association, and the 
Maryland Band Directors Association. She is active as an adjudicator, 
clinician, and guest conductor, and she writes articles for The Woman 
Conductor and BandWorld Magazine.
  These are numerous accolades and tremendous accomplishments, to be 
sure. But what is most important is the love that Ms. Wagner has for 
her students--at least one of whom is a second generation ERHS band 
musician--and the love and respect and admiration they have for her in 
return. She built the ERHS instrumental music program with incomparable 
care for every one of her students. Her love of music, teaching, and 
performing is evident in each and every interaction she has with her 
students, their parents, colleagues, and others in the community. She 
has touched and inspired thousands of students over her career with her 
talent, hard work, joy, dedication, sense of humor, intellect, 
leadership, kindness, and--above all--love. She has taught her students 
about responsibility, dedication, teamwork, and the pursuit of 
excellence. Of course, these lessons aren't just about music; they are 
important lessons about life.
  Just a couple of comments posted by students on the ERHS Facebook 
page tell the story. One student wrote, ``She is totally awesome. I 
swear, she is the most amazing teacher ever. She makes my day, every 
day. I'm just crossing my fingers and praying that she won't retire 
before I graduate!'' Another student wrote, ``Ms. Wagner inspired me to 
do my absolute best in music and helped me discover how important music 
is in my life. She is my hero.'' Another wrote, ``Instrument rentals: 
$25. Uniform fee: $20. Being in her class: priceless.'' Another student 
wrote, ``She always encouraged me to excel. She pushed me and believed 
in me. I learned more from her than anyone. She was the greatest 
teacher! Her love for music shines through.'' Finally, from an alumnus, 
``I had Ms. Wagner way back in 1985--she was great back then, and it is 
great to see that she is still well-loved.''
  In 2004, the ERHS band community of students, parents, and alumni 
commissioned the score ``Under the Magical Wing'' as a tribute to Ms. 
Wagner in appreciation and recognition of her dedication to the ERHS 
music program. Now the ERHS community has established the ``Sally 
Wagner Performing Arts Space,'' a new black box theatre at ERHS.
  U2's Bono has said, ``Music can change the world because it can 
change people.'' If that is true, and I believe it is, think of the 
world-changing impact Ms. Wagner has had over the course of her career. 
Think of the joy she has brought to so many people. I would ask my 
colleagues here in the Senate to join me in thanking Ms. Sally Wagner 
for her extraordinary contributions and congratulate her on her 
retirement. Strike up the band.

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