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