House Resolution 55

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING HOLLY STEWARD OF SOUTHAVEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL UPON BEING NAMED "TEACHER OF THE YEAR" BY THE DESOTO COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

WHEREAS, Holly Steward, a kindergarten teacher at Southaven Elementary School, in Southaven, Mississippi, has been named "Teacher of the Year" by the DeSoto County School District; and

WHEREAS, revered by her fellow-educators as a teacher with the rare ability to engage individual students to ensure that each student progresses along with their classmates, Holly Steward has perfected the skill of adapting her teaching methods to the particular learning abilities of individual students, thus making learning exciting for her young pupils; and

WHEREAS, Holly Steward attended Texas Tech University with her mind set on becoming an architect when a chance encounter during college with a young boy changed her mind and set her focus upon the classroom instead of the drafting board; and

WHEREAS, it is fondly remembered that while Holly was working in a flower shop in college, a young boy who had lost his mother wandered into the presence of Holly Steward, and when found by his mother, the impressionable child proclaimed that he had not been scared because he had been with a teacher; and

WHEREAS, the young boy's mistaken perception that she was a teacher stayed with Holly Steward and after prayerful consideration, she changed her major to education; and

WHEREAS, in 2007, an inexperienced Holly Steward was placed in a failing classroom that had been all but abandoned by other teachers and instantly began to connect with her students, instilling confidence in each child; and

WHEREAS, with most of her students coming from underprivileged homes with bleak economic prospects, Holly Steward strives to connect on a personal level with her young students, to let each of them know that she cares about who they are and what they may be going through in an effort to help with behavior problems and to help lead the students in the right direction; and

WHEREAS, as the winner of the DeSoto County School District Teacher of the Year Award, Holly Steward is now eligible to win the Mississippi Teacher of the Year award, which is a preliminary to the National Teacher of the Year award; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to commend outstanding individuals, such as Holly Steward, whose phenomenal rapport with her fellow colleagues and more importantly, with the students under her tutelage and instruction, translates into an impassioned zeal for transforming, enriching and positively molding the lives of young Mississippians, who are the future of our state:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Holly Steward upon being named "Teacher of the Year" by the DeSoto County School District and extend best wishes for future success as she continues to inspire greatness in the lives of youth through her superior and heralded teaching skills.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Holly Steward, the DeSoto County School District and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.