House Concurrent Resolution 6

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING PENNY BARNES OF ROWAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN HATTIESBURG, MISSISSIPPI, UPON BEING SELECTED AS A NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND 2005 AMERICAN STAR OF TEACHING.

WHEREAS, Penny Barnes, a fourth-grade teacher at Rowan Elementary School in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, was recently tapped as a No Child Left Behind 2005 American Star of Teaching in a surprise announcement on September 28, 2005, by current United States Assistant Secretary of Education and former State Superintendent of the Mississippi Department of Education, Henry Johnson; and

WHEREAS, begun in 2004, the American Stars of Teaching recognition effort is part of the United States Department of Education's Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative, and Mrs. Barnes now joins a distinguished group of honorees selected from a pool of 2,000 nominations nationwide; and

WHEREAS, an educator with high expectations for all students and who believes all children can achieve, Mrs. Barnes represents those professionals who see teaching as a calling, not a job; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Barnes pushes her students daily to go beyond what they believe possible of themselves, voluntarily tutors after school, makes frequent after hours home visits and attends the extracurricular activities of her students to support and encourage them in their endeavors; and

WHEREAS, holding a bachelor's degree in biology-pre med, Mrs. Barnes took and passed the state's licensing exam in elementary education and with additional coursework was certified in elementary 4-8, subsequently earned a master's degree in elementary education with additional coursework in science, earned her 7-12 science endorsements and is currently in her final semester to earn a specialist in counseling with accompanying endorsements in that area; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and commend excellence in our state's esteemed educators like Mrs. Barnes, whose collaboration with her fellow colleagues helps to foster a continuum of instruction to improve student achievement:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Mrs. Penny Barnes of Rowan Elementary School upon being selected as a No Child Left Behind 2005 American Star of Teaching and extend our warmest wishes for continued success in all her future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mrs. Barnes, Rowan Elementary School, the Hattiesburg Public School District and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.