House Resolution 106

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF MISSISSIPPI NATIVE PATRICIA ANN BANYARD AND CONGRATULATING HER ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT AFTER 34 REMARKABLE YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CHILDREN AND PARENTS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

WHEREAS, Patricia Ann Banyard has completed 34 years of exceptional public service to the children and parents of the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Banyard was born on May 24, 1949, in Jackson, Mississippi, one of the beautiful daughters of the late Mrs. Lizzie Taylor-Banyard and Spencer Banyard, Jr.; and

WHEREAS, Patricia Ann Banyard received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Chicago State University in 1974, a Master of Education degree from the National College of Education in 1982, a Master of Science in Education degree from Chicago State University in 1987, and a General Administrative Certificate Type 75 Endorsement from Concordia University in 1999; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Banyard began work in the field of education in 1969 as a Teacher Assistant at the Joseph Medill Primary School #4810 in Chicago, Illinois; and

WHEREAS, as the result of her passion for education, Ms. Banyard became a Primary Education Teacher at the Joseph Medill Primary School #4810 in 1974, a Primary Education Teacher at the Leslie Lewis Elementary School #4450 in 1976, L.D. Resource Teacher at the Kate S. Buckingham School #6980 in 1988, and Assistant Principal at the Kate S. Buckingham School #6980 in 1999; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Banyard holds professional membership with many organizations, including the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), Chicago Principals & Administrators Association (CPAA), Illinois Principals Association (IPA), Chicago Assistant Principals Association (CAPA), Learning Disabilities Association (LDA), and the Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development (ASCD); and

WHEREAS, in an effort to help her students reach their full potential, this master educator designed a Parent Contract and Report Card to encourage more parental participation, developed a school technology plan, staff and parent handbooks, facilitated development of the Crisis Intervention Plan, wrote grants for after-school programs and supervised the Extended School Year (ESY) summer program as mandated by students' Individual Education Plans (IEPs); and

WHEREAS, Ms. Banyard's educational philosophy is "Every child has a right to learn; achieved by proficient administrators supervising and monitoring devoted highly qualified teachers equipped with appropriate standardized resources"; and

WHEREAS, this gifted educator's greatest accomplishment is the ability to inspire students to achieve regardless of their individual circumstances; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Patricia Ann Banyard is a faithful member of the New Faith Baptist Church in Matteson, Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Banyard has been a positive role model for her son, Norman Donell Banyard and her sisters, Faye Hilda Davis, Wilhelmina Marionette Cunningham and Prentess Ridgeway; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Banyard's career has been marked by hard work, professionalism, passion and vision:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we hereby commend the public service of Mississippi native Patricia Ann Banyard upon the occasion of her retirement, and wish her continued success in all her future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Ms. Patricia Ann Banyard and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.