1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 662 1-3 WHEREAS, Shirley Knox-Benton has been chosen the Texas 1-4 High School Principal of the Year 2001, and the Texas Senate 1-5 is proud to recognize her; and 1-6 WHEREAS, A reception in her honor is being held on Sunday, 1-7 April 8, 2001, at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church on North 1-8 Houston Street; and 1-9 WHEREAS, Enjoying a distinguished career in secondary 1-10 education, Mrs. Benton is principal of Paul Laurence Dunbar 1-11 High School in Fort Worth; she has held this position for nine 1-12 years; and 1-13 WHEREAS, Her broad experience and versatility have been 1-14 invaluable in her position as principal of her school; the first 1-15 woman principal of the 47-year-old school, Shirley Knox-Benton has 1-16 worked miracles with the students and status of the institution; 1-17 she has accomplished turning a troubled school around using the 1-18 whole child concept, and she has a national reputation for building 1-19 self-esteem among her students, one day at a time; and 1-20 WHEREAS, After earning her undergraduate bachelor's degree 1-21 from Huston-Tillotson College, Shirley earned her master's degree 2-1 from Texas Woman's University in Denton; she obtained a fellowship 2-2 to attend Harvard University for counseling cognates, receiving 2-3 certification as an education specialist; and 2-4 WHEREAS, Shirley Knox-Benton is a teacher advocate, strongly 2-5 committed to the focused instruction which will ensure that all 2-6 students will receive the kind of education that will enable them 2-7 to take their rightful place in the global economy; and 2-8 WHEREAS, With a genuine commitment to secondary education, 2-9 Mrs. Benton was recently selected to serve on a 15-member 2-10 high school principals steering committee; she serves on the 2-11 principals' planning committee of Region XI Advisory Committee 2-12 and was selected by her peers as President-Elect of the Fort Worth 2-13 Association of Secondary School Principals; and 2-14 WHEREAS, Shirley Knox-Benton holds memberships in the 2-15 National Association of Secondary School Principals, the American 2-16 Association of School Administrators, and the Association for 2-17 Supervision of Curriculum Development; and 2-18 WHEREAS, One who believes in exercising her civic duties, 2-19 she is a member of the Bank One Advisory Council, the Camp Fire 2-20 Board, and the Boy Scouts of America Executive Board; a life member 2-21 of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, 2-22 Mrs. Benton is also a United Way Torchbearer; and 2-23 WHEREAS, Through her achievements and abilities, 3-1 Shirley Knox-Benton has contributed greatly to the educational 3-2 system of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School and the State of Texas; 3-3 now, therefore, be it 3-4 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 3-5 77th Legislature, hereby congratulate Shirley Knox-Benton on 3-6 being named Texas High School Principal of the Year 2001; and, 3-7 be it further 3-8 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 3-9 Mrs. Benton as an expression of admiration and esteem from the 3-10 Texas Senate. 3-11 Moncrief 3-12 ______________________________________ 3-13 President of the Senate 3-14 I hereby certify that the above 3-15 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-16 on April 4, 2001. 3-17 ______________________________________ 3-18 Secretary of the Senate 3-19 ______________________________________ 3-20 Member, Texas Senate