Senate Concurrent Resolution 529

(As Adopted by Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING NADINE LEATHERWOOD OF CORINTH, MISSISSIPPI, UPON BEING NAMED THE NATIONAL "TUTOR OF THE YEAR FOR 2003" BY PRO-LITERACY AMERICA AND DOLLAR GENERAL STORE.

WHEREAS, Nadine Leatherwood of Corinth, Mississippi, has been named the "Tutor of the Year for 2003" by Pro-Literacy America and Dollar General Store; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Leatherwood will travel, for the first time, to the U.S. Capitol in mid-November to accept the award; and she will have the opportunity to speak with elected officials about issues of literacy and education; and

WHEREAS, a tutor for an estimated 31 years, Mrs. Leatherwood joined the not-for-profit Corinth-Alcorn Literacy Council in July 2000. Twenty-seven volunteers currently tutor 31 students locally. She is a tutor trainer and one of the only two tutor trainer supervisors in Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, she was most deserving because of her dedication to meet the needs of her students by teaching them to read or improve their reading skills. Those who made the decision must have recognized that her dedication was above and beyond that of the other candidates; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Leatherwood's expertise is helping students overcome dyslexia, a condition that affects one in five Americans and almost every student enrolled in the local literacy program. Her first student was dyslexic, and she has since tutored four with the reading impairment who went on to graduate from college -- one became an engineer and three became teachers; and

WHEREAS, free tutoring through the Corinth-Alcorn Literacy Council is primarily available to adults, but relatives of students may be tutored as well; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Leatherwood is a native of the Gift Community in Kossuth, but she has lived, attended school and worked as a champion of literacy in many places. The self-described people-person with a thirst for learning has studied special education, cosmetology, sociology/psychology and chemistry/ biology; and

WHEREAS, she and husband, Al Leatherwood, will celebrate 50 years of marriage in March 2004. She is the mother of Debbie Smith of Selmer, Tennessee, and Dan Leatherwood of Birmingham, Alabama, and has four grandchildren:

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend Nadine Leatherwood of Corinth, Mississippi, upon being named the National "Tutor of the Year for 2003" by Pro-Literacy America and Dollar General Store, and wish her continued success in her civic endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Nadine Leatherwood and her family, and be made available to the Daily Corinthian and the Capitol Press Corps.