By Davila H.R. No. 1378 75R17436 SAJ-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Benita Mendez Hernandez is retiring as a teacher at 1-2 Southmayd Elementary School, drawing to a close a distinguished 1-3 tenure in the field of public education that has spanned nearly 20 1-4 years; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Mrs. Hernandez earned both a bachelor's degree and a 1-6 master's degree in education from Texas Southern University; and 1-7 WHEREAS, She began her noteworthy career with the Houston 1-8 Independent School District as a teacher's aide in 1977, and during 1-9 her years with Southmayd Elementary, she has been a positive role 1-10 model to countless children as a teacher of prekindergarten, 1-11 kindergarten, and the first and second grades; and 1-12 WHEREAS, This respected educator has further contributed to 1-13 her school as chairwoman of kindergarten and the second grade; a 1-14 vital and valued member of the faculty, she was honored as 1-15 Distinguished Bilingual Teacher of the Year in 1985; and 1-16 WHEREAS, In all her endeavors, Mrs. Hernandez has enjoyed the 1-17 love and support of her husband of 34 years, Robert S. Hernandez, 1-18 and the couple's children, Rose, Robert Ray, Joseph Andrew, and 1-19 Cynthia Marie; in recent years, Mr. and Mrs. Hernandez have 1-20 welcomed the addition of their children's spouses, Melissa and 1-21 Deborah, and their grandchildren, Monica, Michael, and Sarah, into 1-22 the family fold; and 1-23 WHEREAS, Benita Hernandez has greatly enhanced the quality of 1-24 education in Houston, and she is indeed worthy of special praise 2-1 and recognition at this time; now, therefore, be it 2-2 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas 2-3 Legislature hereby congratulate Benita Mendez Hernandez on her 2-4 outstanding service as a teacher at Southmayd Elementary School and 2-5 extend to her warmest best wishes for a happy and rewarding 2-6 retirement; and, be it further 2-7 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-8 prepared for Mrs. Hernandez as an expression of high regard by the 2-9 Texas House of Representatives.