H.R. No. 753 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Napper Elementary School was recently selected to 1-2 serve as a Mentor School by the Texas Education Agency, joining an 1-3 elite group of public schools chosen for a leadership role in the 1-4 state Mentor School Network; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Founded in 1993, the Mentor School Network strives 1-6 to enhance the quality of education in our state by creating a 1-7 cadre of exceptional and innovative schools that other schools can 1-8 turn to for guidance, training, and staff development and to share 1-9 new ideas and programs; an immediate success, the network now 1-10 includes more than 2,000 schools statewide and has won widespread 1-11 acclaim at both the state and national levels; and 1-12 WHEREAS, Napper Elementary School has twice received 1-13 statewide recognition as an Exceptional School for its students' 1-14 outstanding basic skills test scores and most recently claimed yet 1-15 another well-deserved accolade when one of its talented faculty 1-16 members, Araceli Martinez, was named the 1993-1994 district Teacher 1-17 of the Year; and 1-18 WHEREAS, Students at Napper participate in a variety of 1-19 activities that stress fundamental skills and other offerings that 1-20 fully engage their critical and creative thinking abilities, such 1-21 as dramatics, creative writing, cultural studies, and computer and 1-22 science labs; and 1-23 WHEREAS, Teachers take part in a program of ongoing 1-24 professional development in which they polish their basic skills 2-1 and become familiar with new teaching methods and technology, 2-2 efforts that have produced tangible results in the classroom as 2-3 well as favorable feedback from parents, colleagues, and the 2-4 greater community; and 2-5 WHEREAS, This exemplary school owes much of its success to 2-6 principal Anna Maria Perez and facilitator Diana Narvaez for they 2-7 have each provided outstanding direction to the school's talented 2-8 faculty and staff and have enlisted the support of parents, area 2-9 businesses, and community volunteers who help with the school's 2-10 Career Days and Family Day programs, as well as other enriching 2-11 activities; and 2-12 WHEREAS, Joining Napper Elementary School as new Mentor 2-13 Schools this year are two other excellent schools in the Pharr-San 2-14 Juan-Alamo Independent School District: Pharr Elementary School 2-15 and Carnahan Elementary School; with their selection, this district 2-16 in the Rio Grande Valley claims the singular distinction of being 2-17 the only school district in the state with three Mentor Schools, a 2-18 noteworthy achievement that is truly a source of great pride for 2-19 local citizens; and 2-20 WHEREAS, A shining example of excellence in education, Napper 2-21 Elementary School is helping to shape tomorrow's leaders with pride 2-22 and determination and indeed merits our highest praise and 2-23 recognition for its commendable participation in the Mentor School 2-24 Network; now, therefore, be it 2-25 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-26 Legislature hereby congratulate Napper Elementary School on its 2-27 selection as a Mentor School by the Texas Education Agency and 3-1 commend its dedicated faculty, staff, parents, and students for 3-2 their diligence in securing this significant achievement; and, be 3-3 it further 3-4 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-5 prepared for prominent display at Napper Elementary School as an 3-6 expression of highest regard by the Texas House of Representatives.