By Madden                                              H.R. No. 838
         76R14494 GMW-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, Tom Leyden, principal of Rice Middle School in Plano
 1-2     has been named "State Secondary Principal of the Year" by the Texas
 1-3     Association of Secondary School Principals, and this outstanding
 1-4     accomplishment is truly deserving of special recognition; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, Mr. Leyden graduated from Cuyahoga Falls High School
 1-6     in Ohio in 1965 and received a bachelor of arts degree from Bowling
 1-7     Green State University in 1969; after working as a teacher at New
 1-8     Riegel High School for three years, he moved to Texas and in 1975
 1-9     earned a master of education degree from the University of North
1-10     Texas; and
1-11           WHEREAS, He began his lengthy association with the Plano
1-12     Independent School District in 1972 at Wilson Junior High School,
1-13     for which he served as a teacher, English department head, and
1-14     assistant principal; following tenures as assistant principal at
1-15     Haggard 9-10 High School and Bowman Junior High School, he served
1-16     as principal at Bowman Middle School from 1975 to 1980; and
1-17           WHEREAS, Mr. Leyden served 18 years as principal at
1-18     Schimelpfenig Middle School, which he would transform into a
1-19     nationally recognized United States Department of Education Blue
1-20     Ribbon School; in January 1999 he assumed his current position of
1-21     principal at Rice Middle School and will no doubt continue to excel
1-22     as he enters his fourth decade with the Plano Independent School
1-23     District; and
1-24           WHEREAS, This esteemed educator has been active with many
 2-1     notable organizations, including the Texas Middle School
 2-2     Association and National Alliance of Middle Level Schools, both of
 2-3     which he also helped to found, Texas Association of Secondary
 2-4     School Principals, and National Association of Secondary School
 2-5     Principals; and
 2-6           WHEREAS, In addition to conducting numerous presentations and
 2-7     contributing articles to a host of publications, he has been a
 2-8     principal of a Texas High Performing School and Texas Exemplary
 2-9     School and winner of the reader's choice award for "Best Principal"
2-10     from Harte-Hanks Newspaper in 1996; and
2-11           WHEREAS, During his approximately 30 years as an educator and
2-12     administrator Tom Leyden has demonstrated true dedication to
2-13     academic excellence, and it is indeed fitting that he be honored at
2-14     this time; now, therefore, be it
2-15           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
2-16     Legislature hereby congratulate Tom Leyden for being named the
2-17     "State Secondary Principal of the Year" and that he be extended
2-18     sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness; and, be it
2-19     further
2-20           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-21     prepared for Mr. Leyden as an expression of high regard by the
2-22     Texas House of Representatives.