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.