MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Nunnelee, Harden, Gordon

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING TUPELO MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER JACKIE PARKER ON BEING NAMED MISSISSIPPI'S 2000 TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

WHEREAS, Tupelo Middle School teacher Jackie Parker was named Mississippi's 2000 Teacher of the Year during a banquet held at the Edison Walthall Hotel in Jackson, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Parker was selected from a group of finalists from each of the state's five congressional districts announced earlier in the month, which included: Lucille Lovett of South Delta Middle School in the South Delta School District; Erma Gay Jones of Pearl High School in the Pearl School District; and April Fowler of Picayune High School in the Picayune School District; and

WHEREAS, each school district is asked to submit a Teacher of the Year nominee; applications are evaluated by an independent committee; regional finalists are then interviewed for the title of Teacher of the Year; and

WHEREAS, she will receive a $5,000.00 salary supplement paid by the Mississippi Department of Education and will be invited to attend the National Teacher of the Year conference in Dallas, and will compete in the National Teacher of the Year event; and

WHEREAS, Jackie is a teacher of the intellectually gifted and has 11 years of experience, including nine in her current position; she is a National Board Certified teacher and has led a group of candidates working to receive certification since the fall of 1999; in the summer of 1999, she wrote a manual for integrating technology into middle school curricula; Parker was named Teacher of Distinction by Create, Inc., and the Marilyn and Bob Monroe Educational Foundation in 1999; she has also shared her expertise with several beginning gifted teachers through mentoring; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Parker's dedication and commitment to teaching every child to learn at their maximum potential is seen not only on the faces of her students, but also on the faces of parents, and her enthusiasm toward teaching children is evident in her lesson plans and training of her fellow educators; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this outstanding educator who has dedicated over 11 years of her life to teaching and has brought honor to her school, her 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 commend and congratulate Tupelo Middle School gifted education teacher Jackie Parker on being named Mississippi's 2000 Teacher of the Year, express our deepest appreciation for her service, and wish her continued success in her career and other endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be presented to Jackie Parker, furnished to Tupelo School District Superintendent Dr. Mike Vinson and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.