87R26232 TBO-D
 
  By: Sherman, Sr. H.R. No. 1666
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, Dona Mitchell of the Lancaster Independent School
  District was certified as a National Dropout Prevention Specialist
  by the National Dropout Prevention Center in January 2021; and
         WHEREAS, The NDPS certification program offers educators and
  individuals who work with at-risk youth the opportunity to gain
  additional expertise in strategies that increase graduation rates;
  participants complete a number of professional learning
  requirements and conduct a field project that identifies techniques
  for improving student success; and
         WHEREAS, For more than a decade, Mrs. Mitchell has worked
  with Lancaster ISD as the administrative assistant and truancy
  coordinator for the Lancaster Police Department; in 2018, she
  secured funding to provide washers and dryers to four campuses, and
  most recently, she helped implement Talk Time with the Judge, which
  connects at-risk students with local judges to discuss issues that
  affect school attendance, such as homelessness, mental illness,
  bullying, and abuse; and
         WHEREAS, Active in her professional community, Mrs. Mitchell
  has held a number of leadership positions with the International
  Association for Truancy and Dropout Prevention, currently serving
  as president of the association's board of directors; in addition,
  she established the DGM Foundation and became a National Runaway
  Safeline representative; and
         WHEREAS, Dona Mitchell has worked tirelessly to improve
  educational outcomes for young Texans in Lancaster ISD, and this
  impressive professional certification represents a new milestone
  in her career; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas
  Legislature hereby congratulate Dona Mitchell on her certification
  as a National Dropout Prevention Specialist by the National Dropout
  Prevention Center and extend to her sincere best wishes for
  continued success in her important work; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
  prepared for Mrs. Mitchell as an expression of high regard by the
  Texas House of Representatives.