Senate Concurrent Resolution 649

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND CONGRATULATING THE 2019 MISSISSIPPI EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AWARDS RECIPIENTS FROM GEORGE COUNTY.

WHEREAS, the Mississippi Association of Educators sponsors the Mississippi Excellence in Education Awards Gala. The second Annual Awards Ceremony was held in the Jackson Convention Center on March 1, 2019. The theme was "Honoring Those Who Shape Our Future" and awards were presented to nine recipients who were selected through a nomination process, received nominations from all over the state and the nominees were selected by a committee who considers the work of the educators in their classrooms as well as their schools, districts and communities. The awards were: Administrator of the Year, Elementary Teacher of the Year, Middle School Teacher of the Year, High School Teacher of the Year, Education Support Professional of the Year, Higher Education Educator of the Year, Early Career Educator of the Year (0-5 years), Teaching Inspiration Award, President's Award and Friend of Education Award; and

WHEREAS, several school districts were represented for these prestigious awards; however, George County swept the award category with three awards. No other district had more than one award; and

WHEREAS, Layne Fore (Central Elementary School) is the recipient of the Early Career Educator of the Year Mississippi Excellence in Education Award. Life as a first-year teacher is often the most traumatic year of a young educator's life, but not for Layne Fore, the 2019 Early Career Educator of the Year. Ms. Fore is a first-year teacher at Central Elementary School who instructs and inspires her first-graders much like a veteran educator. Along with the tough skills of learning early math, reading, reasoning and thinking skills, she teaches them sign language, an important communication skill. As they move through their phonics lesson each day, her hands make the letters and words of the hearing impaired. Not only is she teaching an exceptional skill, she teaches them to recognize and respect others who may communicate in a different manner. Her colleagues share that she fosters a family-like atmosphere in her classroom as she teaches her students to share and respect one another. Ms. Fore is a volunteer for every new and innovative endeavor that Central Elementary educators want to practice or achieve. By doing so, she is growing and developing the skills she needs to continue in her chosen profession. As an Early Career Educator, this profession counts on her to become even stronger and better so that she can serve as an example of what is possible for other Early Career Educators. We congratulate and welcome with open arms Early Career Educator of the Year, Layne Fore; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Zach Bost (Central Elementary School), is the recipient of the Administrator of the Year, Mississippi Excellence in Education Award. Dr. Zach Bost entered Central Elementary School of George County as Administrator two years ago; already through his leadership skills, students have experienced phenomenal growth in academics as well as in social skills. His philosophy of reaching the whole child has permeated the faculty and staff of Central Elementary. His belief in what educators can do for students is demonstrated in several ways. For example, he worked with his faculty to establish "Tiger Time," a thirty-minute-a-day, four-days-a-week tutoring time, in which struggling students' weaknesses are addressed. At the same time, tutors focus on higher level students by growing and stretching them academically. Proof of the success of this and his other innovative programs is the astronomical growth in student success in English Language Arts (ELA), math and science in all grade levels. Dr. Bost's leadership has guided faculty and students through the House System where students create a sense of unity and community within the school. Through this innovative system, Central Elementary has seen a positive change in attendance, number of Accelerated Reader (AR) points and a turnaround for many students, both academically and socially. One of Dr. Bost's proudest achievements is the Great Central Shake where students are actively engaged in a variety of real-world social skills. Among other awards and recognitions, Central Elementary School has been awarded The Rock Star Award by Edmentum Solutions, a National Entrepreneurial School, the National Beta Club School of Distinction, and Top 10% Mississippi K-3 Assessment Support System (MKAS) in both scale score and growth; and

WHEREAS, Middle School Teacher of the Year Awardee is Mrs. Lisa Renfroe of George County Middle School. Mrs. Renfroe goes above and beyond for her students every day. She finds ways to make students want to come to school each day and want to learn through her innovative and exciting classroom pedagogy. She encourages them even in their worst hour, her colleagues report. Her special talent is to see students who seem to be invisible among their peers and even to themselves. She scoops them up and helps give them confidence, attention, a presence and a future of growth and success. They begin to shine whereas before her special touch, they seemed left out and alone. Her expertise in the classroom provides her students with the foundation they need to succeed while at the same time working with her colleagues to help them also guide and direct their students. She is a teacher whom students and peers can trust and turn to, no matter what the situation may be; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we commend these professional educators who mentor the lives of young Mississippi citizens and who have brought honor to their school, their school district, their community 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 recognize Mississippi Excellence in Education Awards, and extend the best wishes of the Legislature to these professional educators for future achievement with Mississippi's young citizens, who are its future.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the Mississippi Excellence in Education Awards recipients, forwarded to the Principals of each represented school and the George County Board of Education, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.