MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Representatives Stringer, Eaton, Ellzey, Shows

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING MR. MARK RICE FOR BEING RECOGNIZED AS AN OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR. 

WHEREAS, Mr. Mark Rice, a ten-year Air Force Veteran, is a teacher in the West Jasper School District at the Stringer Attendance Center; and

WHEREAS, a 1988 graduate of the Mississippi University for Women, Mr. Rice taught school in Birmingham, Alabama, where he was named Alabama's Teacher of the Year; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Rice returned to Mississippi to teach in the West Jasper School District, teaching aerospace education after school to a group of 20 gifted students and ten sixth graders beginning in September of 1990; and

WHEREAS, throughout his educational career, Mr. Rice has received numerous awards including, the IBM/Microsoft Mississippi Computer Teacher of the Year, the Mississippi Education Forum Award of Excellence in Teaching, the West Jasper Schools Teacher of the Year, the NORTEL Rural Teacher of the Year and the National Science Foundation/California Academy of Sciences/Chevron Best Classroom Practices Award, and he was nominated for the A. Scott Cross Field Aerospace Educator of the Year Award; and

WHEREAS, in addition to Mr. Rice's awards, his students have received recognition, as well, for their selection from schools all over the country to be the first classroom ever to be linked live by video with a shuttle in orbit for a nationally televised education teleconference with the crew of Discovery; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Rice's students and classroom were featured on an hour-long Japanese News Special on American Education in 1994, they presented a computer program on the Environment in Atlanta for CNN's Network Earth in 1994 and they won the state Web Page Design Competition in 1996; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Rice has been featured on the cover of publications such as the Tennessee Educators Magazine and the School to Work Magazine; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature of the State of Mississippi finds it appropriate to recognize and pay special tribute to Mr. Mark Rice for his hard work and dedication to teaching aerospace education to his students:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do commend Mr. Mark Rice for his service to the children of this state as an outstanding educator, congratulate him on his nomination for the A. Scott Cross Field Aerospace Educator of the Year Award and extend to him our best wishes in all his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. Mark Rice and the Capitol Press Corps.