HR0945 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0945 LRB097 21140 KXB 68585 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Barbara Thomas on the occasion of her retirement on June 1, 2012, after 25 years of service as a distinguished Illinois educator; and

WHEREAS, She was greatly influenced by her mother, Mary Woodroffe, who raised 4 children in Lake in the Hills and later worked at Quaker Oats; she is currently retired and enjoying life at Clare Oaks Retirement Community in Bartlett; and

WHEREAS, She was also greatly influenced by her father, Basil Woodroffe, who served as a Marine in World War II in the South Pacific; he later was a Manager at Fox Electric Supply in Elgin and Aurora; he passed away in April of 1982; and

WHEREAS, She graduated from Marian Central Catholic High School in Woodstock in 1968; she received her degree in Elementary Education at Northern Illinois University in 1972, where she met her husband, Randel Thomas; they were married August 19, 1972; and

WHEREAS, In 1973, she was hired as a fifth grade teacher at Neil Armstrong Elementary School in Schaumburg District 54; she taught for 6 years before leaving to raise her children; and

WHEREAS, In 1979, she gave birth to her daughter, Tricia Jeanne Klein (Thomas); in 1982, she gave birth to her son, Jeffrey Basil Thomas; while raising her children, she was a substitute teacher at their elementary school, Steeple Run, in Naperville; and

WHEREAS, In 1993, she received her Masters degree from Northern Illinois University; she then returned to full-time teaching as a seventh-grade teacher in 1993 at Notre Dame Catholic School in Clarendon Hills, where she taught for 2 years; in 1995, she began teaching at Brookdale Elementary in Indian Prairie School District 204, where she taught fourth and fifth grade; in 2009, she transferred to Graham Elementary School in Indian Prairie School District 204; and

WHEREAS, She has influenced hundreds of young students by instilling a passion and love for learning; she has mentored colleagues by providing guidance for teachers new to the profession through collaboration; and she served as an Indian Prairie Union Representative for several years; and

WHEREAS, She has made major contributions to the field of education by pioneering researched-based methods; approaching her work with enthusiasm and honest reflection; and above all, identifying and recognizing that each student has a unique way of learning, including those with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, She has made major contributions to the community, serving as a volunteer at Naperville North High School in Naperville, St. Margaret Mary Parish in Naperville; the Girl Scouts of America, Indian Prairie School District 204, and Steeple Run Subdivision as President and Secretary of the Community Council; and

WHEREAS, She plans to spend her retirement doing activities at her own leisure at her home in Naperville, including spending time with her family, most notably her grandson, Justin Thomas Klein, traveling with her husband, substitute teaching, enjoying quality time with lifelong friends, most notably, the Biddies and the Fake Family, with whom she has been friends for over 40 years, and enjoying quiet reading and a cup of coffee in the morning; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Barbara Thomas on her retirement as an educator and wish her the best in all her future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Barbara Thomas as a symbol of our respect and esteem.