Senate Resolution 44

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING MR. SOLLIE B. NORWOOD, DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF COMMUNITY SERVICES OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, FOR BEING SELECTED AS THE "PARENT OF THE YEAR" IN THE JACKSON PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WHEREAS, while attending a Jackson Municipal Separate School Board meeting, Mr. Sollie B. Norwood was surprised with the news that he was being honored as Jackson's "Parent of the Year" for 2004; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Norwood will represent Jackson in the State "Parent of the Year" Contest as the 2nd Congressional District finalist, and the winner will be announced in late May at an event coordinated by the State Department of Education; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Norwood is currently the Director of the Division of Community Services with the Mississippi Department of Human Services, and is responsible for the management of four statewide programs budgeted at $26 Million Dollars. Mr. Norwood has extensive training and tenure in the development of community services related projects. He has done additional training for non profit staff and board members in policies, procedures and program objectives. He is a certified trainer for the Pacific Institute, trained by the National Center for Fathering to conduct fatherhood seminars; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Norwood was born in Rankin County, Florence, Mississippi, attended Good Hope Elementary School and graduated from Richland High School. He received a B.S. Degree in Sociology and a Masters Degree in Guidance and Counseling from Jackson State University. Mr. Norwood is a 33rd Degree Mason, a Shriner and a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and is a member of New Hope Baptist Church on Watkins Drive in Jackson, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, He is married to Joan Winters Norwood. They have two children, Sollie II, 17 years old, and Ashley, 12 years old. Sollie II attends Jim Hill High School where he plays basketball and Ashley attends Peeples Middle School. Mr. Norwood is President of the Jim Hill Boys Basketball Booster Club and volunteers at Peeples Middle School; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Norwood supports children in the district as a whole, helping other parents patrol hallways and organize parent-teacher-student events, but as Sollie states: "No matter how much I do, I can't do enough"; and

WHEREAS, it is with pride that we recognize this parent who works hard for his children and the children in his community, and who has brought honor to his school district and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Mr. Sollie B. Norwood of Jackson, Mississippi, Executive Director of the Division of Community Services of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, for being selected "Parent of the Year" in the Jackson Municipal Separate School District, and extend to him and his family the best wishes of the Senate for success in the state competition and in their future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Mr. Norwood and be made available to the State Board of Education and the Capitol Press Corps.