HR1277

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives wish  to offer our sincere congratulations to 
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Dr. Joel Morris, who will become the next Superintendent of 
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Maine Township High School District 207; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In 1969, Dr. Morris graduated from Maine South 
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High School; and

 
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    WHEREAS, After leaving Maine South High School, Dr. Morris 
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went on to earn a bachelor's degree in history from Illinois 
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State University, a master's degree in history from Loyola 
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University, and a doctorate in educational administration with 
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superintendent endorsement from the University of Illinois; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, Dr. Morris served as a teacher at Maine South and 
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as a central office administrator at Maine for eighteen years; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, He left the Maine Township school system to become 
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the Superintendent of West Chicago Community High School 
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District 94, until he moved to Iowa in 1996 to serve as 
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Superintendent of the Dubuque school system; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In 1999, he returned to Illinois and has since led 
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Elmhurst schools as Superintendent of Elmhurst Community Unit 
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School District 205; and
 
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    WHEREAS, For the past seven years, Dr. Morris has shaped 
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Elmhurst schools into some of the best schools in Illinois; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Dr. Morris' administration has overseen the 
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completion of the York Community High School renovation into a 
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state-of-the-art facility; and
 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, His vision and institutional knowledge are the 
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driving force behind the ascension of Elmhurst schools to an 
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elite category of excellence; and
 
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    WHEREAS, He has developed unique partnerships with 
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community groups and agencies to help better serve the needs of 
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students and local residents; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Upon leaving Elmhurst, Dr. Morris will return to 
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his alma mater, Maine Township High School District 207, as the 
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new superintendent; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Maine Township High School District 207 has 
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approximately 7,500 students enrolled at three high schools and 
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is comprised of students from Park Ridge, Des Plaines and parts 
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of Glenview, Harwood Heights, Morton Grove, Niles, Norridge, 
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Norwood Park Township, and Rosemont; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Not only did Dr. Morris graduate from Maine South, 
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but his son is also a fellow alumni; and
 
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    WHEREAS, In 1995, Dr. Morris was named Superintendent of 
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the Year by the Illinois Association of School Administrators, 
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and he received the University of Illinois Distinguished Alumni 
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Award in 1999; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Dr. Joel Morris' dedication to improving 
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education in Illinois is a source of inspiration to the entire 
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community and State; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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we congratulate Dr. Joel Morris for his exemplary years of 
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service, for his achievement of educational excellence, and for 
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his dedication to the children and residents of the City of 
 


 






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Elmhurst; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Dr. Morris, his family, the City of Elmhurst, and 
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Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 School Board.