Giffords aide returns to work after recovering from shooting

Posted Feb 23, 2011

Dylan Smith
TucsonSentinel.com

courtesy Giffords' officeSimon

Pamela Simon returned to her desk in the office of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords this week after recovering from the Jan. 8 attack that left her shot twice.

"I am thrilled to be back in the office working with my close friends and helping the people of Southern Arizona," said Simon, Giffords' community outreach coordinator, in a news release. "It is an honor to work for Congresswoman Giffords and I look forward to the day when she is also able to return to work."

Simon was shot—in the chest and in the wrist—in what authorities call an assassination attempt on Giffords.

Six were killed and 13 others, including Simon and the congresswoman, were wounded in the attack.

Simon was hospitalized for several days, and recuperated at home since her release from University Medical Center last month, the release from Giffords' office said.

Simon represents Giffords with schools, veterans and the military, seniors and faith-based groups. She has worked in the congressional office since shortly after Giffords took her seat in January 2007.

During her first days back at work, Simon worked on the Congressional Art Competition, a contest open to all high school students nationwide. This is the 26th year of the competition in which winning pieces are displayed at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. She also worked on a program for students wishing to serve as pages in the House of Representatives.

Simon was a middle school teacher for more than 20 years, most recently at Tortolita Middle School. She also taught for two years at Mountain View High School before retiring in May 2006.

As a teacher, Simon was active in the Marana Education Association. She first met the congresswoman in 2000 in Phoenix during Giffords' first week as a state representative.