By Price H.C.R. No. 196 75R11458 JTR-D HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, Children are the Lone Star State's most precious 1-2 natural resource, and the dedicated professionals entrusted with 1-3 their education have earned the profound gratitude and admiration 1-4 of their fellow Texans; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Dr. Mary Gagne is one such individual, and in her 1-6 years as principal of Beaumont's Monsignor Kelly Catholic High 1-7 School she has overseen its emergence as one of the country's 1-8 preeminent private schools; and 1-9 WHEREAS, Dr. Gagne's record as an educator has attracted 1-10 national attention, and in addition to being designated an 1-11 Outstanding Educator in America by President George Bush, she has 1-12 also been honored with a Blue Ribbon Award as one of the nation's 1-13 finest school administrators by Executive Educator magazine; and 1-14 WHEREAS, The esteem in which Dr. Gagne is held by her 1-15 professional peers is evident from the many organizations that have 1-16 sought her expertise and experience, including the U.S. Department 1-17 of Education, the National Catholic Education Association, and the 1-18 Texas Association of Secondary School Principals State Board; and 1-19 WHEREAS, A model for private schools across the nation, 1-20 Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School has flourished under Dr. 1-21 Gagne's leadership, and the school's rigorous academic standards 1-22 have produced remarkable results; 99 percent of graduates go on to 1-23 pursue university studies, and the number of students achieving 1-24 National Merit recognition is greater than the total combined 2-1 number from all other schools in a three-county area; and 2-2 WHEREAS, Even as enrollment has risen from 380 to 689 2-3 students, the school has seen the addition of a computerized 2-4 information center, a state-of-the-art science building, and a new 2-5 multi-purpose building that comprises four classrooms, a gymnasium, 2-6 and a studio theater, and these improvements will no doubt further 2-7 enhance the school's supportive learning environment; and 2-8 WHEREAS, Dr. Gagne has labored diligently to extend the 2-9 educational advantages of Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School to 2-10 as many young people as possible, and through her dedicated efforts 2-11 the $3 Million Foundation was created to cover the tuition costs of 2-12 those students who might not otherwise be able to attend the 2-13 school; and 2-14 WHEREAS, Dr. Mary Gagne's powerful commitment to excellence 2-15 has ensured her reputation as an exemplary administrator even as 2-16 her efforts have touched the lives of thousands of students through 2-17 the years, and it is indeed fitting to recognize her many 2-18 contributions to her fellow Texans at this time; now, therefore, be 2-19 it 2-20 RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-21 hereby honor Dr. Mary Gagne for her achievements in the field of 2-22 education and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued 2-23 success and happiness in the future; and, be it further 2-24 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-25 prepared for Dr. Gagne as an expression of high regard by the Texas 2-26 House of Representatives and Senate.