Shirley A. Saryan Biography

Personal

  • Married
  • Two adult children
  • One grandchild

Public Service & Elected Office

  • City of Greenfield 5th District Alderperson, June, 2005-present
  • Finance & Human Resources Committee, Chairperson, April, 2009-present
  • Board of Public Works, member; past Vice-Chairperson
  • Legislative Committee,  member; past Chairperson; past Vice-Chairperson
  • S. 27th St. Business District Association - City Partner
  • Past Common Council President
  • Greenfield Public Library Building Committee
  • Community Health Improvement Planning Committee
  • Park & Recreation Board, past Aldermanic Representative
  • Public Library Board, past Aldermanic Representative, past Citizen Member
  • Community Center Ad Hoc Committee, past Chairperson         
  • Public Celebration Committee, past Citizen Member Secretary       
  • Land Use Steering Committee, past Aldermanic Representative

Volunteer Activities

  • Read with kindergarteners at Elm Dale Elementary twice a week
  • The Salvation Army Cold Spring, Advisory Council Member
  • Vietnam Veterans Memorial Moving Wall volunteer
  • Walk to End Alzheimer's - Promise Garden volunteer
  • Armenian Church Organist; Choir; Ladies’ Auxiliary Vice-Chairperson, secretary; youth group advisor
  • Woman’s Club of Greenfield
  • Daughters of Vartan
  • Greenfield Lion’s Club
  • Usher, Racine Theatre Guild
  • School District of Greenfield Ad Hoc Testing Committee Parent Representative
  • Greenfield High School Post Prom Parent Committee, Band Parent Committee
  • Brownie Troop Assistant Leader
  • Greendale Playschool Board of Directors, Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson

Education

  • UW-M: Professional Education Cert., Director of Special Education and Pupil Services
  • Northeastern Illinois University: M.A., Special Education
  • Illinois State University: B.S., Education

Work Experience

  • Special Education Diagnostic/Program Support Teacher:  Oak Creek School District, 1990-2015
  • Teacher:  Milwaukee County Child & Adolescent Treatment Center; Special Education District of Lake County, Illinois; Kenosha School District

Professional Organizations

  • Wisconsin Division for Children with Learning Disabilities, President
  • Council for Educational Diagnostic Services, National Publicity Committee Chairperson
  • Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders

Awards

  • The Salvation Army Cold Spring Corps, Volunteer of the Year
  • Wisconsin Park and Recreation Association, Service Recognition Award
  • Wisconsin Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief, Service Award
  • Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District, Distinguished Service; Special Recognition
  • Wisconsin Division for Learning Disabilities, Outstanding Service; Past President

Honors

  • Armenian Church National Representative Assembly delegate
  • Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Task Force on Specific Learning Disabilities Criteria

Hobbies

  • Piano
  • Theatre, symphony, old movies
  • Community Theatre Musicals, onstage
  • Travel