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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives wish to offer our sincere congratulations to
4 Dr. Joel Morris, who will become the next Superintendent of
5 Maine Township High School District 207; and
 
6     WHEREAS, In 1969, Dr. Morris graduated from Maine South
7 High School; and
 
8     WHEREAS, After leaving Maine South High School, Dr. Morris
9 went on to earn a bachelor's degree in history from Illinois
10 State University, a master's degree in history from Loyola
11 University, and a doctorate in educational administration with
12 superintendent endorsement from the University of Illinois;
13 and
 
14     WHEREAS, Dr. Morris served as a teacher at Maine South and
15 as a central office administrator at Maine for eighteen years;
16 and
 
17     WHEREAS, He left the Maine Township school system to become
18 the Superintendent of West Chicago Community High School
19 District 94, until he moved to Iowa in 1996 to serve as
20 Superintendent of the Dubuque school system; and
 
21     WHEREAS, In 1999, he returned to Illinois and has since led
22 Elmhurst schools as Superintendent of Elmhurst Community Unit
23 School District 205; and
 
24     WHEREAS, For the past seven years, Dr. Morris has shaped
25 Elmhurst schools into some of the best schools in Illinois; and
 
26     WHEREAS, Dr. Morris' administration has overseen the
27 completion of the York Community High School renovation into a
28 state-of-the-art facility; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, His vision and institutional knowledge are the
2 driving force behind the ascension of Elmhurst schools to an
3 elite category of excellence; and
 
4     WHEREAS, He has developed unique partnerships with
5 community groups and agencies to help better serve the needs of
6 students and local residents; and
 
7     WHEREAS, Upon leaving Elmhurst, Dr. Morris will return to
8 his alma mater, Maine Township High School District 207, as the
9 new superintendent; and
 
10     WHEREAS, Maine Township High School District 207 has
11 approximately 7,500 students enrolled at three high schools and
12 is comprised of students from Park Ridge, Des Plaines and parts
13 of Glenview, Harwood Heights, Morton Grove, Niles, Norridge,
14 Norwood Park Township, and Rosemont; and
 
15     WHEREAS, Not only did Dr. Morris graduate from Maine South,
16 but his son is also a fellow alumni; and
 
17     WHEREAS, In 1995, Dr. Morris was named Superintendent of
18 the Year by the Illinois Association of School Administrators,
19 and he received the University of Illinois Distinguished Alumni
20 Award in 1999; and
 
21     WHEREAS, Dr. Joel Morris' dedication to improving
22 education in Illinois is a source of inspiration to the entire
23 community and State; therefore, be it
 
24     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
25 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
26 we congratulate Dr. Joel Morris for his exemplary years of
27 service, for his achievement of educational excellence, and for
28 his dedication to the children and residents of the City of

 

 

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1 Elmhurst; and be it further
 
2     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
3 presented to Dr. Morris, his family, the City of Elmhurst, and
4 Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 School Board.