H.R. No. 1549
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
 
         WHEREAS, Margaret Taylor Smith has made a meaningful
  difference in the lives of countless Texans with dyslexia and other
  learning disabilities during her outstanding career as an educator,
  author, speaker, and advocate; and
         WHEREAS, Ms. Smith graduated from Baylor University and went
  on to receive a master's degree in education from Texas A&M
  University-Commerce; she taught in public schools for 12 years
  before earning a dyslexia therapist certification and beginning to
  teach special education classes in Dallas; troubled by the lack of
  resources and curriculum guidelines for teachers of students with
  learning disabilities, she worked on developing her own materials,
  and she eventually shared this project with the world when she
  released Multisensory Teaching Approach for Reading, Spelling, and
  Handwriting in 1987 through her company, MTS Publications; and
         WHEREAS, A respected authority on learning disabilities,
  Ms. Smith has written a number of other publications on the
  subject, trained thousands of dyslexia therapists and teachers in
  Texas and beyond, and advocated for state laws that provide vital
  services to students with dyslexia; she also helped to develop the
  Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for English Language Arts
  curriculum through her involvement with the Texas Education Agency;
  and
         WHEREAS, Ms. Smith has held leadership roles with the
  International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council
  and the Academic Language Therapy Association Centers Council, and
  she is a valued member of the International Dyslexia Association;
  furthermore, she has served as associate director of the Dean
  Teacher Training Center and taught at A&M-Commerce and Southern
  Methodist University; and
         WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan has received numerous accolades
  over the years, including the Aylett R. Cox Educator Award from the
  Academic Language Therapy Association and the Distinguished Alumni
  Award from Forney High School, and Smith Elementary School in
  Forney was named in her honor; and
         WHEREAS, Margaret Smith has worked tirelessly to provide
  young people with dyslexia and other learning disabilities with a
  strong educational foundation on which to build, and she is indeed
  deserving of recognition for her accomplishments in this crucial
  endeavor; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas
  Legislature hereby commend Margaret Taylor Smith for her efforts in
  behalf of Texans with learning disabilities and extend to her
  sincere best wishes for continued success with her important work;
  and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
  prepared for Ms. Smith as an expression of high regard by the Texas
  House of Representatives.
 
  Bell of Kaufman
 
  ______________________________
  Speaker of the House     
 
         I certify that H.R. No. 1549 was adopted by the House on May
  17, 2019, by a non-record vote.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House