House Resolution 92

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE SERVICE OF MRS. ANNA P. HURT FOR HER MANY YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE OCEAN SPRINGS SCHOOL DISTRICT, IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION AND CONGRATULATING HER UPON HER RETIREMENT.

WHEREAS, Mrs. Anna P. Hurt will retire from the Ocean Springs School District on June 30, 2006, after seven years of dedicated service and exemplary leadership as superintendent, leading with a kind, compassionate and patient nature that taught as much to her staff as to her students; and

WHEREAS, the Ocean Springs School District, under the leadership of Mrs. Hurt, has been a model of excellence in the classroom, as demonstrated by all six schools in the Ocean Springs School District, receiving the highest possible rating, Level 5, Superior-Performing, under the Mississippi Accountability System for the past two years; and

WHEREAS, the Ocean Springs School District has received the WHAT PARENTS WANT! AWARD for the seventh consecutive year, and Pecan Park Elementary School received the 2005 School of Excellence Award from the Mississippi Alliance for Arts Education; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Hurt has served the Ocean Springs School District for 20 years and, before serving as superintendent of the district, has held the positions of Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, Testing and Federal Programs, Director of Federal Programs and Administration and Administrative Assistant; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Hurt has taught children on the elementary and middle school levels before serving as an administrator, dedicating a total of 34 years to the field of education and to the boys and girls of Mississippi and Louisiana; and

WHEREAS, she received her bachelor's degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in elementary education, a master of education degree from William Carey College and a master's degree and a specialist's degree in education administration from the University of Southern Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Hurt provided outstanding leadership to her peers as a board member, President of the Mississippi Association of School Administrators and as a member of the Governing Board of the American Association of School Administrators and has served as a member and board member of countless other professional and community organizations; and

WHEREAS, she has been widely recognized for her outstanding service as an education leader in Mississippi, including the honor of being named 2004 Mississippi Superintendent of the Year by the Mississippi Association of School Administrators, the 2003 Superintendent of the Year by the Mississippi Alliance for Art Education and receiving the 2002 Overall Achievement and Dedication Award for Education from the Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce; and

WHEREAS, Hurricane Katrina, the worst natural disaster to impact the United States, devastated the Mississippi Gulf Coast and brought incredible destruction to the Ocean Springs School District and, despite the unrelenting force of the hurricane, Anna Hurt demonstrated even greater strength, personal fortitude and stalwart support of her students and their families, staff members and their families and the community at large through her diligent efforts as she led the school district's recovery from the violent storm; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend such outstanding educators as Mrs. Hurt, who has dedicated her career to shaping the minds and lives of the young people of this state:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Mrs. Anna P. Hurt upon her retirement from the Ocean Springs School District and extend to her our heartiest wishes for continued success in all her future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mrs. Anna P. Hurt and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.