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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Paula Jay is retiring as head of the English |
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department at Elkins High School in Missouri City at the end of the |
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2012-2013 school year, drawing to a close a distinguished career in |
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education that has spanned three and a half decades; and |
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WHEREAS, A graduate of Hondo High School, Ms. Jay attended |
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Texas A&I University in Kingsville and taught high school in |
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Robstown and Tuloso-Midway before returning to Texas A&I to earn |
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her master's degree in English; in 1983, she joined the faculty of |
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Willowridge High School in Houston, where she was recognized as |
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teacher of the year; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Jay assisted in the establishment of Elkins High |
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School in 1992, and she has served as chair of the English |
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department for the past 21 years; known for her dedication to her |
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students and her tireless work to create a positive learning |
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environment, she created the school's English Honor Society, which |
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recently became a chapter of the National English Honor Society, |
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and she has sponsored many student groups at the school, including |
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University Interscholastic League competitors in spelling, |
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literary criticism, ready writing, current events, and journalism; |
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in addition, she started the Academic Decathlon at Elkins, and |
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under her guidance her students have excelled, even winning |
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back-to-back state championships in 1995 and 1996, a feat no other |
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school in the state had previously achieved; an inspiring and |
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dynamic teacher, Ms. Jay has been honored multiple times during her |
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tenure at Elkins, including by being named the school's Teacher of |
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the Year in 1995-1996, when she was a district finalist for that |
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honor as well; and |
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WHEREAS, In retirement, Ms. Jay looks forward to reading and |
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spending time with her two daughters and her first grandson, Mason; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, During her 35 years as an educator, Paula Jay has |
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demonstrated an unwavering commitment to her students, and she may |
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indeed reflect with pride on her accomplishments as she embarks on |
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the next exciting chapter of her life; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Paula Jay on the occasion of her |
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retirement and extend to her sincere best wishes for happiness in |
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the years ahead; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Ms. Jay as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |