HR1072 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1072 LRB098 21187 MST 59114 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Dr. Kathryn Birkett on the occasion of her retirement as Superintendent of Schools for Indian Prairie School District 204; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Birkett began serving as Superintendent in July of 2009; she currently oversees the third largest school district in the State with 33 schools serving 29,000 students; she has dedicated her career to District 204, beginning as a teacher at Waubonsie Valley High School in 1979; over the next 3 decades, she moved up through the district, serving as an Assistant Principal, Steck Elementary Principal, Neuqua Valley High School Principal, and Assistant/Deputy Superintendent; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Birkett is active in the community, currently serving as a member of the Naperville Rotary Club and is on the Executive Committee/Board of Directors of Metropolitan Chicago YMCA; she is also a board member of the Large Unit School District Association, the Naperville Heritage Society, and the Naperville Development Partnership; she previously served 10 years on the Edward Hospital Board of Directors; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Birkett is one of 28 superintendents selected from across the nation to serve on the League of Innovative Schools as part of the Digital Promise Initiative of the United States Department of Education in Washington, D.C.; as part of this cutting edge technology leadership group, she has implemented "Bring Your Own Technology" into District 204 classrooms; she is also one of 100 superintendents selected nationally to participate in the Education Research & Development Institute, looking at the latest innovative educational programs and products; and

WHEREAS, During Dr. Birkett's tenure as superintendent, District 204 has seen the highest ACT scores achieved by students, made progress in closing achievement gaps with minority students, placed the district on solid financial footings, even in light of cuts in State educational funding, and realized strong community approval ratings in the area of communications; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Birkett has a doctorate in Educational Administration from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, a master's degree also from Northern Illinois University, and a Bachelor of Science from Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky; she is a St. Charles High School graduate and outstanding alumna; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Dr. Kathryn Birkett on her retirement as Superintendent of Schools for Indian Prairie School District 204, 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 Dr. Birkett as an expression of our esteem and respect.