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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Shanna Peeples of Palo Duro High School in Amarillo |
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has been named the 2015 Texas Teacher of the Year, which is the |
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highest honor that can be bestowed upon a teacher in the state, and |
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she is one of four finalists for the National Teacher of the Year |
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award; and |
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WHEREAS, An English teacher who joined the faculty at Palo |
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Duro High in 2008, Ms. Peeples was also selected as the 2015 Texas |
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Secondary Teacher of the Year; she is an exceptionally skilled and |
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dedicated instructor, and she also serves as a compassionate mentor |
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to her students, drawing on her own experiences to help them |
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overcome obstacles; the chair of the English department, she |
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further benefits the campus as an instructional coach, as National |
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Honor Society cosponsor, and as a member of the textbook adoption |
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committee and the D-FORCE positive behavioral support committee; |
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after school hours, she opens her classroom for use as a safe space |
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for informal writing and discussion groups; and |
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WHEREAS, This dynamic educator has been a member of the |
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Amarillo Independent School District English Language Arts |
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Standards committee since 2009; moreover, she has conducted |
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literacy workshops for K-12 teachers, and she has presented |
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numerous papers at staff development events and professional |
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conferences of organizations such as the National Council of |
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Teachers of English, the Texas Council of Teachers of English |
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Language Arts, and Abydos Learning International; in addition, she |
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is active in the wider community in initiatives that promote |
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literacy and the development of writing ability; and |
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WHEREAS, Before joining the faculty at Palo Duro High, |
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Ms. Peeples taught seventh grade English Language Arts at Horace |
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Mann Middle School in Amarillo; she completed her bachelor's degree |
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in English at West Texas A&M University and went on to earn a |
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master's degree in education from The University of Texas at |
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Arlington, specializing in curriculum and instruction with an |
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emphasis in literacy studies; and |
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WHEREAS, Shanna Peeples is devoted to providing young Texans |
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with the knowledge and skills they need to realize their dreams, and |
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her passion, determination, and commitment to excellence are an |
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inspiration to her students and fellow educators alike; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Shanna Peeples on her selection as |
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the 2015 Texas Teacher of the Year and finalist for National Teacher |
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of the Year and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued |
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success in her important endeavors; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Ms. Peeples as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |