HR1267 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1267 LRB099 21888 GRL 48819 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to thank Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart for her many years of service as Superintendent of Proviso Township High Schools District 209; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina and a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; she earned master's degrees in English education and educational administration from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina and her doctorate in educational policy and leadership from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart is a lifelong educator and administrator, having served as superintendent of Proviso Township High Schools District 209 since 2008; she previously served as an educator and administrator in North Carolina and Kansas; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart is noted for her work in closing the achievement gap, curriculum alignment, and equity education; her work has been cited in several educational publications, and she has also presented nationally on the topic; as superintendent, she has led efforts that have resulted in increased reading and math scores, increased ACT scores, improved daily attendance, increased honors and advanced class enrollments, and increased scholarship awards and student acceptance to college and post-secondary schools; during her tenure, Proviso Mathematics and Science Academy has been recognized as one of the top high schools in the nation; and

WHEREAS, During her time as an educator, Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart has added successful intervention programs such as test prep, credit recovery, reading and math prep academies, Saturday School, and an evening school and truancy program for students for whom the traditional school setting did not meet their needs; during the 2014-2015 school year, she expanded educational programs to include the cosmetology and barber program, an International Baccalaureate program, a pre-engineering program, and improved curricula in math and English through the Empower 3000 and Agile Mind programs; she has been instrumental in reducing District 209's budget deficit from approximately $14 million in 2007 to balanced budgets in every year since Fiscal Year 2010, placing the District in the State's highest category, "Financial Recognition", and raising the District's credit rating; under her leadership, the District is preparing to be removed from State financial oversight in 2016; and

WHEREAS, In 2012, Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart received the Outstanding Administrator Award for the 7th Congressional District of Illinois; in 2014, she was recognized by the Illinois General Assembly in commemoration of her success; she was recognized as the 2006 Superintendent of the Year by Region 4 of the American Cancer Society and nominated for Superintendent of the Year by the National Association of Black School Educators (NABSE) in 2014; in 2015, she was honored by NABSE with the Ida B. Wells Risk Taker Award; she was honored with the 2014 Orchid Award from the West Suburban Chicago Chapter of Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., as an "extraordinary woman who is bold in service"; she has also been honored with the "Service Above Self" Award from the Rotary Club and Village of Maywood, the Operation Uplift Inc. Community Award, and the Proviso East NJROTC Appreciation Award; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart is a member of the Board of Directors for the Des Plaines Valley Region Partnership, of which she is a past president; she is a member of the Illinois Association of School Administrators Vision 20/20 Task Force, the Superintendents' Commission for the Study of Demographics and Diversity, the National Association of Black School Educators, and she serves on the Proviso Area for Exceptional Children Board; she is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and a past member of the AVID Board of Directors, Phi Delta Kappa, and Jack and Jill, Inc.; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart serves as a model of hard work, integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we thank Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart for her service as Superintendent of Proviso Township High Schools District 209 and wish her great success and happiness in her future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart as a symbol of our esteem and respect.