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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Those Texans who give generously of their time and |
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talents to benefit the larger community make the world a better |
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place through their actions and their example, and Dr. Paula |
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Francis-Richardson of Port Arthur is one such person; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Port Arthur, Dr. Francis-Richardson |
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graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School; she pursued her higher |
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education at Texas Southern University, where she earned her degree |
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and became involved in the Houston Voter Registration Project; she |
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later went on to complete her Ph.D. in humanities at Shreveport |
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Bible College; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Francis-Richardson was employed as a program |
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consultant in the governor's office, overseeing the Job Training |
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Partnership Act in five regions, and she later worked with |
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proprietary schools for the Texas Education Agency; she returned to |
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her hometown in 1993 and began her career in the classroom, serving |
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as a teacher with the Port Arthur Independent School District; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed educator established the Tekoa |
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Academy of Accelerated Studies in August 1999, originally serving |
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students from kindergarten through sixth grade; today, the school |
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operates an additional campus in Orange and provides a |
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comprehensive education to pre-K through 12th grade students; |
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moreover, Dr. Francis-Richardson's valuable knowledge and |
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expertise leading Tekoa have helped the institution earn STEM |
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school recognition from the state comptroller's office; and |
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WHEREAS, Respected within her profession, |
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Dr. Francis-Richardson is a member of a number of worthwhile |
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organizations, including the Association for Supervision and |
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Curriculum Development and the Texas Charter School Association; |
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she has participated in the Brookings Institution executive |
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leadership program and the National Political Congress of Black |
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Women, and she is a lifetime member of the NAACP; in addition, she |
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has served area citizens through her tenure as vice president of the |
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Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Francis-Richardson has demonstrated an |
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exceptional commitment to providing many Texans with a strong |
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academic foundation on which to build, and it is a privilege to |
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honor her for her accomplishments; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend Dr. Paula Francis-Richardson on her |
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outstanding contributions to the betterment of her community and |
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extend to her sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Dr. Francis-Richardson as an expression of high regard |
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by the Texas House of Representatives. |