By Telford H.R. No. 73 77R4446 MJS-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Throughout the nation, Americans are seeking 1-2 innovative solutions to improve our public education system, and 1-3 some of the most successful programs during the past two decades 1-4 have been those implemented by the Association of Texas 1-5 Professional Educators (ATPE); and 1-6 WHEREAS, ATPE has strived to further education as a 1-7 profession since 1980 by promoting the highest standards and 1-8 developing training activities to bolster teachers' expertise; and 1-9 WHEREAS, Formed by a handful of Texas educators, ATPE has 1-10 increased in membership from 18,000 at its inception to more than 1-11 100,000 members today, making it the largest professional 1-12 educator's association in Texas; ATPE has grown and prospered while 1-13 continuing to meet the demanding challenges and expectations of 1-14 educators and of the many children attending school in the Lone 1-15 Star State; and 1-16 WHEREAS, This estimable association has forged partnerships 1-17 with parents, businesses, communities, and the government to 1-18 provide countless services that enable educators and schoolchildren 1-19 to reach their highest potential; and 1-20 WHEREAS, ATPE has benefited greatly from the astute 1-21 leadership of its 2000-2001 ATPE state officers Susie Thrash, Tim 1-22 Fogarty, Sheila Fields, Don Cotten, and Connie Kilday, and ATPE's 1-23 region directors, presidents, and other volunteer officials; and 1-24 WHEREAS, By coordinating efforts to address the serious 2-1 issues that educators and children confront on a daily basis, 2-2 members of ATPE have served as a unifying force in improving 2-3 education, and their initiatives have had a positive impact 2-4 throughout the entire State of Texas; now, therefore, be it 2-5 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 2-6 Legislature hereby recognize January 22, 2001, as Association of 2-7 Texas Professional Educators Day and that it commend the members of 2-8 ATPE for the continued enhancement of education in Texas; and, be 2-9 it further 2-10 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-11 prepared for the Association of Texas Professional Educators as an 2-12 expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.