| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, The Intercultural Development Research Association |
|
|
(IDRA) launched its Education Policy Fellows Program in November |
|
|
2020; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, IDRA is dedicated to promoting equal educational |
|
|
opportunity by strengthening public schools that prepare all |
|
|
students to reach their dreams; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, students of color make up more than 70 percent of the |
|
|
Texas public school population, yet even as the state grows more |
|
|
diverse, advocates of color are often not included in formulating |
|
|
decisions that impact these children; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, the IDRA Education Policy Fellows Program was |
|
|
created to prepare advocates of color to join a network of advocates |
|
|
committed to improving racial equity in education; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, During the 87th Legislative Session, the inaugural |
|
|
cohort of IDRA Education Policy Fellows worked with coalitions, |
|
|
students, and families to craft a community-centered education |
|
|
policy agenda, guided community advocacy sessions, researched and |
|
|
crafted education policies, created and led advocacy campaigns, and |
|
|
published issue briefs; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The four inaugural policy fellows are Dr. Altheria |
|
|
Caldera, Araceli Garcia, Thomas Marshall III, and Christina Muñoz; |
|
|
and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Dr. Caldera is a scholar, writer and equity activist |
|
|
who began her professional career as a middle school English |
|
|
teacher; and whose fellowship work focused on expanding access to |
|
|
postsecondary education, particularly for students of color, and |
|
|
ensuring successful outcomes; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Ms. Garcia, the daughter and granddaughter of |
|
|
Mexican immigrants, grew up on the South Side of San Antonio; and |
|
|
concentrated on expanding educational opportunities for emergent |
|
|
bilingual students and immigrant students; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Marshall holds a bachelor's degree in English |
|
|
with a minor in youth development studies from Clemson University; |
|
|
and focused on student and family advocacy, including policies to |
|
|
ensure digital equity; and |
|
|
WHEREAS Ms. Muñoz, a Latina, recently received her master's |
|
|
degree in quantitative methods in the Department of Educational |
|
|
Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin; and worked to |
|
|
promote education policies that ensure an equitable response to |
|
|
COVID-19; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The outstanding advocates in the fellowship program |
|
|
have gained valuable experience during the 87th Legislative |
|
|
Session, and their connection to communities of color helps ensure |
|
|
that the students most impacted by education policies are central |
|
|
to decision-making; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby honor the Intercultural Development Research |
|
|
Association and the inaugural cohort of its Education Policy |
|
|
Fellows Program and extend to all those associated with the |
|
|
organization sincere best wishes for continued success in their |
|
|
important endeavors; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared |
|
|
for the organization and the fellows as an expression of high regard |
|
|
by the Texas House of Representatives. |
| |
|
|
Allen |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Speaker of the House |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 1744 was adopted by the House on May |
|
|
29, 2021, by a non-record vote. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |