HR1081 LRB094 19980 HSS 57397 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the
3 State of Illinois are pleased to congratulate Elmer McPherson
4 on the occasion of his retirement; and
 
5     WHEREAS, He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in
6 history/physical education from McKendree College in Lebanon
7 followed with his Master of Science degree in education
8 leadership from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale; he
9 has completed his course work for his doctoral degree in
10 education/organization and leadership from the University of
11 Illinois; and
 
12     WHEREAS, Mr. McPherson began his career in education in
13 1972 teaching in the public schools of Cairo, Illinois, where
14 he served as a Middle School Social Studies/Physical Education &
15 Health Teacher, Athletic Coach for Baseball/Basketball and
16 Track, Dean of Students, Athletic Director, Work-Study
17 Coordinator, and finally as Assistant Principal for Cairo High
18 School from 1981 to 1983; and
 
19     WHEREAS, He became the Extension Course Supervisor/Liaison
20 for three years in the Shawnee Community College in Ullin
21 before serving as the Principal at Cairo High School, and later
22 at Edison Middle School in Champaign; in 1992, he became
23 Principal of Stephen Decatur High School in Decatur before
24 moving to the administrative offices in 1993 as Director of
25 School/Curriculum and Assistant Superintendent; he was
26 appointed Superintendent in 2001; and
 
27     WHEREAS, For the past six years Mr. McPherson was
28 responsible for much of the day-to-day operations of the school
29 district, as well as serving as a key figure in the Decatur
30 schools' shift to a more decentralized decision-making
31 structure; he was involved with the successful local tax

 

 

HR1081 - 2 - LRB094 19980 HSS 57397 r

1 referendum passed in February 2001, the first such success
2 since 1956; and
 
3     WHEREAS, Some of the highlights of his time as
4 superintendent in Decatur include the development of Hope
5 School, a K-8 building that is the first school in the district
6 to go to a balanced or year-round calendar; the Professional
7 Development Institute; the Phoenix Enrichment Center, an
8 alternative school, and Phoenix II, a center for teen moms; the
9 development of a strategic plan; and the organization of a
10 Superintendent Youth Council; and
 
11     WHEREAS, He is a member of the United Way Board, the Metro
12 Decatur Chamber of Commerce, the Joint Drop Out Task Force, the
13 Decatur Public Schools Foundation, Webster-Cantrell Hall, Boys
14 and Girls Club of Decatur, and numerous other civic and
15 professional organizations; and
 
16     WHEREAS, He and his wife, Naomi, live in Decatur where
17 Naomi serves as Coordinator for Accelerated Schools with a home
18 base in Decatur; therefore, be it
 
19     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
20 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
21 we congratulate Elmer McPherson on the occasion of his
22 retirement after 34 years in education; and be it further
 
23     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
24 presented to Mr. McPherson as an expression of our esteem.