HR1081 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1081 LRB094 19980 HSS 57397 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the State of Illinois are pleased to congratulate Elmer McPherson on the occasion of his retirement; and

WHEREAS, He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history/physical education from McKendree College in Lebanon followed with his Master of Science degree in education leadership from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale; he has completed his course work for his doctoral degree in education/organization and leadership from the University of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Mr. McPherson began his career in education in 1972 teaching in the public schools of Cairo, Illinois, where he served as a Middle School Social Studies/Physical Education & Health Teacher, Athletic Coach for Baseball/Basketball and Track, Dean of Students, Athletic Director, Work-Study Coordinator, and finally as Assistant Principal for Cairo High School from 1981 to 1983; and

WHEREAS, He became the Extension Course Supervisor/Liaison for three years in the Shawnee Community College in Ullin before serving as the Principal at Cairo High School, and later at Edison Middle School in Champaign; in 1992, he became Principal of Stephen Decatur High School in Decatur before moving to the administrative offices in 1993 as Director of School/Curriculum and Assistant Superintendent; he was appointed Superintendent in 2001; and

WHEREAS, For the past six years Mr. McPherson was responsible for much of the day-to-day operations of the school district, as well as serving as a key figure in the Decatur schools' shift to a more decentralized decision-making structure; he was involved with the successful local tax referendum passed in February 2001, the first such success since 1956; and

WHEREAS, Some of the highlights of his time as superintendent in Decatur include the development of Hope School, a K-8 building that is the first school in the district to go to a balanced or year-round calendar; the Professional Development Institute; the Phoenix Enrichment Center, an alternative school, and Phoenix II, a center for teen moms; the development of a strategic plan; and the organization of a Superintendent Youth Council; and

WHEREAS, He is a member of the United Way Board, the Metro Decatur Chamber of Commerce, the Joint Drop Out Task Force, the Decatur Public Schools Foundation, Webster-Cantrell Hall, Boys and Girls Club of Decatur, and numerous other civic and professional organizations; and

WHEREAS, He and his wife, Naomi, live in Decatur where Naomi serves as Coordinator for Accelerated Schools with a home base in Decatur; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Elmer McPherson on the occasion of his retirement after 34 years in education; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Mr. McPherson as an expression of our esteem.