Senate Concurrent Resolution 555

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING PETAL SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT, DR. JAMES HUTTO, UPON BEING SELECTED AS THE 2005 MISSISSIPPI SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR.

WHEREAS, Petal School Superintendent, Dr. James R. Hutto, has been selected as the 2005 Mississippi Superintendent of the Year by the Mississippi Association of School Administrators; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Hutto attributes this award to the world-class teachers, supportive school board and the Petal community that supports and values public education; and

WHEREAS, nominated by his peers, Dr. Hutto will be recognized with the Civic Star Award and will represent the state on the national level for the American Association of School Administrators Superintendent of the Year Program; and

WHEREAS, James Hutto has been Superintendent of the Petal School District since 1998. During his tenure, the Petal School District has added approximately forty new classrooms, a 1,000-seat auditorium, a new middle school music/dance building, new athletic facilities and new programs, including a Family Support Center, a Computer Engineering and Networking Course and a Senior Exist Project required for each graduating senior. In September of 2003, Petal School District was recognized as one of only two school districts in the state with all Level 5 schools. That same year, Petal's graduating seniors scored on the national average on the ACT for all test takers and above the national average for core completers; and

WHEREAS, prior to coming to Petal, he was Superintendent of the Poplarville School District for four years. He has been a professional educator in the State of Mississippi for 34 years serving as a teacher, elementary principal, high school principal and superintendent. He is a native of Brookhaven, Mississippi, where he graduated from high school. He later received his A.A. from Copiah-Lincoln Junior College, followed by his B.S., M.Ed. and Ed.D. from the University of Southern Mississippi. He has been an active member of the USM Alumni Association for 34 years. During that time he has served as President of a local alumni chapter on two occasions and on the Board of Directors of the USM Alumni Association; and

WHEREAS, he is a member of Phi Delta Kappa, Mississippi Association of School Administrators (Past President), Association for Supervisors and Curriculum Development and American Association of School Administrators. He has been published in several national journals of education, including Kappan Journal, NASSP Bulletin and Educational Leadership; and

WHEREAS, his wife, Allen, and he are active members of Petal Harvey Baptist Church, where he serves as a Deacon and teaches a College and Career Sunday School Class; and

WHEREAS, Mississippi will be well represented by this Superintendent who has a great vision for young students and a program in place which can be modeled on the national level, and it is with great pride that we recognize this educational leader who has brought credit to his school district, his community, his family and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Petal Municipal Separate School District Superintendent, Dr. James R. Hutto, upon his selection as 2005 Mississippi School Superintendent of the Year by the Mississippi Association of School Administrators, and extend to him and his family the best wishes of the Legislature for continued professional success as he represents Mississippi on a national level.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Dr. Hutto, be forwarded to the Petal School Board and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.