H.R. No. 1745

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, The Dallas Independent School District is recognizing the distinguished career of educator Melvin D. Traylor by naming the auditorium of Franklin D. Roosevelt High School in his honor; and

WHEREAS, A native of Daingerfield, Mr. Traylor was one of six children born to Mamie and McKinley Traylor; he graduated from Bishop College with a degree in chemistry and physics and went on to further studies in science at The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Houston; he later earned his master's degree in administrative leadership from the University of North Texas; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Traylor first joined Dallas ISD in 1963 as a teacher at Booker T. Washington High School; he then served two years as an education specialist with the United States Army before returning to the district as a teacher at L. G. Pinkston High School; after seven years, he embarked on an administrative path, beginning as an administrative specialist in personnel development and serving as principal of Oran M. Roberts Elementary School, Thomas A. Edison Environmental Science Academy, and Boude Storey Middle School; and

WHEREAS, In 1987, Mr. Traylor became principal of Roosevelt High, where his innovative programs succeeded in helping the previously low-performing school reach an exceptional standard of achievement; his ICU Plan, inspired by hospital Intensive Care Units, called for the identification of seniors with critical academic deficiencies and the creation of teams of educational specialists to help them concentrate on those areas; teachers on these teams provided daily tutoring to "stabilize" the condition of students falling behind and bring their academic performance up to the level necessary for graduation; and

WHEREAS, This dynamic administrator reorganized responsibilities at Roosevelt to prepare students for the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills; recognizing that some students needed extra attention and encouragement, he assigned each staff member to "adopt" five children in danger of failing and closely oversee their progress, letting them know someone truly cared; he instituted identification badges, making Roosevelt the first DISD school to require them, and heightened anticipation of graduation ceremonies by having staff and teachers attired in full regalia; under his leadership, Roosevelt surpassed all other Title I high schools in the state in terms of consecutive years of improvement on test scores and in attendance; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Traylor was instrumental in developing DISD teacher selection protocol, having conceived of a system analogous to the NFL draft, where the lowest-performing schools would be offered the first chances to hire the best teachers; after 10 years at Roosevelt, he brought his expertise to the DISD Central Office as director of the Office of Student Responsibility; and

WHEREAS, New ventures beckoned Mr. Traylor after his retirement from the district in 2000, but he has continued to work in behalf of the youth of Dallas through his subsequent employment as director of the Dallas County Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program and as director of family programs for Pinnacle, an affordable housing management services company; and

WHEREAS, A charter member of the African American Hall of Fame in Dallas, Mr. Traylor gives generously of his time and talent as a member of the board of Baylor Hospital's Tom Landry Fitness Center, and he has served the wider community as a member of the Dallas City Planning Commission, Dallas Area Interfaith, the National Association of Black School Educators, and the Urban League; moreover, he is chair of the board of trustees and a member of the steward board at Porter Temple C.M.E. Methodist Church; in all his endeavors, he enjoys the love and support of his wife, Jeffie Traylor, and son, Dwayne R. Traylor; and

WHEREAS, Melvin Traylor served DISD with enormous energy, vision, and commitment for more than four decades, and made a positive difference in the lives of countless young people; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas Legislature hereby commend Melvin Traylor for his exceptional service to the Dallas Independent School District and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mr. Traylor as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.

Davis of Dallas

______________________________ Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 1745 was adopted by the House on May 11, 2009, by a non-record vote.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House