By Wise                                                H.R. No. 360
         77R7198 MDM-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to
 1-2     congratulate Martin Winchester of Alamo on his receipt of an All
 1-3     AmeriCorps Continued Commitment Award presented by President
 1-4     Clinton in a ceremony at the White House; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, AmeriCorps recruits people to tutor children, build
 1-6     housing for low-income families, and restore the environment, and
 1-7     the Continued Commitment Award recognizes an individual's sustained
 1-8     participation in service activities and encouragement of others to
 1-9     be facilitators of community improvements; and
1-10           WHEREAS, A member of AmeriCorps since 1995, Mr. Winchester
1-11     was a teacher for two years in the Las Milpas colonia area and then
1-12     served as executive director of Teach for America--Rio Grande
1-13     Valley region, during which time he was instrumental in
1-14     fund-raising efforts that netted more than $300,000 in donations;
1-15     and
1-16           WHEREAS, Mr. Winchester teaches sixth-grade language arts and
1-17     social studies at Cesar Chavez Elementary School in Pharr, and he
1-18     realized a heartfelt dream when he secured a $1 million grant from
1-19     the U.S. Department of Education to found the HEROES Academy, a
1-20     community learning center and extended-day college preparatory
1-21     program for at-risk middle school students; and
1-22           WHEREAS, After participating in this exemplary educational
1-23     program, 28 percent more HEROES members passed math and reading
1-24     exams, according to their Texas Assessment of Academic Skills
 2-1     scores; in addition to creating the HEROES program, Mr. Winchester
 2-2     developed a curriculum that concentrates on Mexican-American
 2-3     heritage, and he coordinates schoolwide service projects for the
 2-4     benefit of the community; and
 2-5           WHEREAS, Mr. Winchester received a bachelor of arts degree
 2-6     from the University of North Carolina--Charlotte; he continued his
 2-7     academic pursuits at the University of Minnesota, where he earned a
 2-8     master of arts degree in history, and at The University of
 2-9     Texas--Pan American, where he earned a master of education degree
2-10     with an emphasis on administration; and
2-11           WHEREAS, Martin Winchester demonstrates the highest standards
2-12     of the teaching profession, and he is truly worthy of special
2-13     recognition for his commitment to educational excellence; now,
2-14     therefore, be it
2-15           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-16     Legislature hereby congratulate Martin Winchester on his receipt of
2-17     an All AmeriCorps Continued Commitment Award and extend to him
2-18     sincere best wishes for future 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. Winchester as an expression of high regard by the
2-22     Texas House of Representatives.