H.R. No. 206 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Rebecca Walker has been chosen Woman of the Year for 1-2 1994 by the Quota Club of Port Arthur for her many significant 1-3 contributions as an educator and community leader; and 1-4 WHEREAS, A native of Alabama, she relocated with her family 1-5 to Port Arthur at an early age and was graduated from Port 1-6 Neches-Groves High School; and 1-7 WHEREAS, This exceptional individual pursued her higher 1-8 education at Lamar University, where she attained her bachelor of 1-9 science degree in 1968, and went on to receive her master's degree 1-10 in guidance and counseling from McNeese State University; and 1-11 WHEREAS, She began her career as an educator at Port 1-12 Neches-Groves High School in 1968 as director of the Indianettes; 1-13 two years later she took her talents to Taft Elementary School, 1-14 where she instituted the school's first physical education program; 1-15 and 1-16 WHEREAS, In 1971 she resigned from her position to devote 1-17 time to the rearing of her family, but her love of teaching was 1-18 such that she returned to the classroom in 1980, first at Van Buren 1-19 Elementary School as a physical education instructor and later at 1-20 Port Neches Elementary School as a fifth grade teacher; and 1-21 WHEREAS, After subsequently serving as a counselor at Groves 1-22 Elementary School, she was promoted to the position of principal at 1-23 Van Buren Elementary School in 1988; as a result of her superlative 1-24 efforts in that demanding position, Van Buren was ranked among the 2-1 top 10 elementary schools in the state, and Mrs. Walker was chosen 2-2 Texas Elementary School Principal of the Year for 1992-1993 for 2-3 Region V, an honor for which she was nominated by her faculty; and 2-4 WHEREAS, Mrs. Walker has sought to broaden her level of 2-5 professional expertise through active membership in such 2-6 organizations as the Sabine Neches Association for School Boards 2-7 and Administrators and the Texas Elementary Principals and 2-8 Supervisors Association; she also is a life term member of the PTA 2-9 and recently completed her superintendent certification 2-10 requirements at Stephen F. Austin State University; and 2-11 WHEREAS, Throughout her productive life she has received the 2-12 love and support of her husband, Douglas Walker, and her children 2-13 Tara, Sharla, and Reagan; and 2-14 WHEREAS, Rebecca Walker has set an inspiring example of 2-15 leadership and professional excellence throughout her career as an 2-16 educator, and in recognition of her many achievements it is indeed 2-17 fitting that she be given special legislative recognition; now, 2-18 therefore, be it 2-19 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-20 Legislature hereby congratulate Rebecca Walker on her well-deserved 2-21 designation as 1994 Woman of the Year by the Quota Club of Port 2-22 Arthur and extend to her best wishes for continued success; and, be 2-23 it further 2-24 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-25 prepared for Rebecca Walker as an expression of high regard by the 2-26 Texas House of Representatives.