House Resolution 44

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING DR. JENNIFER K. YOUNG WALLACE ON BEING ELECTED THE FIFTH AFRICAN AMERICAN TO BE ELECTED NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION OF TEACHER EDUCATORS.

WHEREAS, the esteemed Dr. Jennifer K. Young Wallace has been elected president of the Association of Teacher Educators (ATE) for the 2025-2026 term, and will receive her gavel at the national convention in New Orleans in March; and

WHEREAS, upon taking this office, she makes history as the fifth African American to be elected as national president of ATE in its 104-year history and as the first president elected who is a graduate and employee of a Historically Black College and University (HBCU); and

WHEREAS, ATE was founded in 1920, and is the only national, individual membership organization devoted solely to improving teacher education for school — and campus-based teacher educators, and today, ATE members represent nearly 1500 teacher educators in colleges, universities, school districts, and state education agencies within 41 regional and state-affiliated units and United States territories; and

WHEREAS, upon being elected, Dr. Young Wallace was overcome with great emotion and expressed, "I am deeply honored to be elected President of a national educator's organization..."I'm thankful to the ATE membership for electing me to such an honorable position. I am excited about my team of educators from higher education institutions in America."; and

WHEREAS, "Empowering a Global Community of Educators to Leave a STAMP on Education: Social Emotional Learning, Transformational Leadership, Advocacy, Multiculturalism, and Professional-Practices" is Dr. Wallace's presidential theme during her reign; and

WHEREAS, her presidential theme was inspired by the present educational trends that encompass not only her research but the research of a multitude of teacher educators in the world, and being the dedicated leader that she is, she has already laid out the groundwork for her commissions, task forces, and initiatives, as the work has begun while she serves on ATE's Board as first vice president; and

WHEREAS, a graduate of Alcorn State University, she is a tenured associate professor/coordinator of the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program for the College of Education and Human Development at Jackson State University, where she was elected chair of the university's Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, 2021-2023, where she presided over curriculum changes and modifications for all degrees at the university, and served as Faculty Senate Treasurer, 2023-2024, Appeals Committee Chair, 2022-2023; and

WHEREAS, she earned her bachelor's degree in English/journalism from Alcorn State University, a master's degree in counseling from Jackson State University, a master's degree in English education from Mississippi College, and a doctor of philosophy degree in educational administration from Jackson State University, she has also completed a two-year Bible training class from Word of Life Ministries; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Wallace has served as keynote speaker for national organizations and conferences, as well as for collegiate and high school graduations, and presented her research on leadership and educational trends at numerous national conferences; and

WHEREAS, in addition to her many other professional accomplishments, she is also an astute author who has over 20 publications in national journals, encyclopedias, and numerous educational books, and many reviews published on the back cover; and

WHEREAS, she has also written the foreword and afterword for several books published by renowned educational publishing companies, and serves on a national educational research team that presents their work nationwide; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Wallace has served on numerous committees and task forces for the Mississippi Department of Education, focusing on teacher preparation, holds numerous K-12 educator licensures, including principal administration, counseling, English, and psychometry; she has received numerous local, state, and national awards for her dedication to education and community; and

WHEREAS, she has served on numerous prestigious academic boards, including the National Board of the Association of Teacher Educators (2019-2022), where she worked to improve the organization's sustainability, the JSU Margaret Walker Alexander National Center Board as secretary, the Precious Children Mobile Mission Board as Vice President, the Legislative Government Relations Committee for the Association of Teacher Educators, a three-year term on the Advocacy Committee for the American Association for College Teachers of Education as one of seven professors in the nation elected to the committee; and

WHEREAS, she has and continues to be supported in all her endeavors by her loving husband, Michael A. Wallace; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to celebrate the achievement of Mississippi educators who bring positive attention to our state by earning positions in the higher echelons of their profession's organizations:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Dr. Jennifer K. Young Wallace upon her election as the National President of the Association of Teacher Educators 2025-2026 and wish her success during her term.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Dr. Jennifer K. Young Wallace and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.