MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2021 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Representatives McKnight, Bennett

House Resolution 82

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING SUPERINTENDENT ROY GILL ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AFTER AN EXCEPTIONAL 35-YEAR CAREER IN THE HARRISON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT AS AN EDUCATOR AND SUPERINTENDENT.

     WHEREAS, Mr. Roy Gill, beloved Superintendent of Harrison County School District, and well-known Mississippi Gulf Coast educator, has decided to end his storied 35-year career as a professional educator and retire at the end of the 2020-2021 school year; and

     WHEREAS, a proud product of the Harrison County School District himself, Mr. Gill has helped transform and inspire the minds of generations of Harrison County youth; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Gill began his teaching career at Harrison Central High in 1986, where he taught math for 11 years and helped to guide the girls basketball team to two state championship titles as the assistant girls basketball coach; and

     WHEREAS, in spring 1998, Mr.Gill's passions and skills earned him the honor of serving as the assistant principal at Harrison Central Ninth Grade School, and in the summer of 1998 he became the assistant principal at North Woolmarket Elementary and Middle School, where he remained until he was promoted to principal of North Woolmarket Elementary and Middle School in 2002; and

     WHEREAS, in 2007, Mr. Gill was hired as the district's director of accountability, and just three years later named principal of D'Iberville High; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Gill later returned to the central office as the Director of Curriculum and Accountability, and in 2015, was elected superintendent of Harrison Central School District which encompasses 22 campuses, around 15,000 students and over 2,000 employees; and

     WHEREAS, although the office of superintendent has come with many challenges, including managing the complexities of COVID-19 mandates to ensure the health of students and staff, Mr. Gill has been triumphant in navigating the complexities and creating solutions; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Gill is especially proud of the many accomplishments made by the school district during his tenure, including becoming an A-rated school district for the first time in the school's history, being currently ranked as one of the top 25 school districts in the state, and successfully passing a $55 Million bond issue to improve campus security and construct new schools; and

     WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to celebrate the accomplishments of educational leaders, such as Mr. Roy Gill, who have spent their lives enhancing the intellect of Mississippi's youth:

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby congratulate Mr. Roy Gill on the occasion of his retirement as an esteemed educator and commend him for 35 years of exceptional service to the children and families of the Harrison County School District.

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