Full Text of HR0831 103rd General Assembly
HR0831 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY | | | HR0831 | | LRB103 40937 ECR 73966 r |
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| 1 | | HOUSE RESOLUTION | 2 | | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of | 3 | | Representatives wish to congratulate MaryBeth and Jim Westin | 4 | | on the occasion of their respective retirements after a | 5 | | combined six decades of teaching in the Rockford Region; and | 6 | | WHEREAS, MaryBeth Westin earned a Bachelor of Science in | 7 | | Special Education from Illinois State University in 1991; she | 8 | | obtained a Master of Arts in Education from St. Xavier | 9 | | University in 1994; she later earned a Library Information | 10 | | Specialist endorsement from Northern Illinois University in | 11 | | 2011; and | 12 | | WHEREAS, MaryBeth Westin has always striven to participate | 13 | | and advocate for students; she has made a tremendous impact on | 14 | | the lives of her pupils while embracing the challenges and | 15 | | responsibilities of educating special education students with | 16 | | unwavering commitment, patience, and empathy, ensuring that | 17 | | each student received the personalized support and | 18 | | accommodations necessary to thrive academically, socially, and | 19 | | emotionally; her work ethic is reflective of her guiding | 20 | | principle that every student possesses the ability to learn, | 21 | | even if learning cannot traditionally manifest itself; and | 22 | | WHEREAS, MaryBeth Westin has worked tirelessly to break |
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| 1 | | down barriers and overcome obstacles that special education | 2 | | students often face, advocating for their rights, access to | 3 | | resources, and opportunities for full participation in our | 4 | | academic system; and | 5 | | WHEREAS, Marybeth Westin has served as a member of | 6 | | multiple union bargaining teams, including during the height | 7 | | of the COVID-19 pandemic when she leveraged her expertise, | 8 | | insight, and experience in negotiating the contracts of over | 9 | | 1,500 teachers in the State's third-largest district, proving | 10 | | her relentless dedication to ensuring that the terms and | 11 | | conditions of employment were fair, equitable, and reflective | 12 | | of the needs and priorities of educators, students, and the | 13 | | broader school community; and | 14 | | WHEREAS, In her years as a librarian, MaryBeth Westin has | 15 | | initiated book clubs to help students foster a love for | 16 | | reading, critical thinking, and intellectual curiosity, | 17 | | including a parent-student book club that provided | 18 | | opportunities for students and parents to engage in meaningful | 19 | | discussions, share diverse perspectives, and connect and bond | 20 | | over education; and | 21 | | WHEREAS, MaryBeth Westin has exemplified a deep commitment | 22 | | to the holistic development of her students, going above and | 23 | | beyond to support their involvement in extracurricular |
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| 1 | | activities; she has served as a steadfast champion and mentor | 2 | | for students, encouraging them to explore their passions, | 3 | | interests, and talents beyond the confines of the traditional | 4 | | classroom setting; and | 5 | | WHEREAS, Jim Westin received a Bachelor of Science in | 6 | | Education from Illinois State University in 1995; he later | 7 | | obtained a Master of Education from Northern Illinois | 8 | | University in 2001; and | 9 | | WHEREAS, Jim Westin began his career as a special | 10 | | education teacher at Abraham Lincoln Middle School, where he | 11 | | worked for 20 years, serving and educating children at the | 12 | | same school he attended as a student; and | 13 | | WHEREAS, For the last years of his career, Jim Westin has | 14 | | demonstrated an exceptional commitment to serving | 15 | | nontraditional students during his tenure at the Winnebago | 16 | | County Juvenile Detention Center, displaying unwavering | 17 | | dedication in his educational endeavors and embracing head-on | 18 | | the unique challenges and opportunities of teaching in a | 19 | | juvenile detention center; further, he has recognized the | 20 | | importance of education as a pathway to rehabilitation, | 21 | | empowerment, and hope for incarcerated youth; and | 22 | | WHEREAS, Jim Westin has gone above and beyond to create a |
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| 1 | | supportive and open learning environment within the confines | 2 | | of the detention center, providing personalized attention, | 3 | | mentorship, and encouragement to students who often previously | 4 | | faced significant academic, social, and emotional barriers; | 5 | | and | 6 | | WHEREAS, Jim Westin has demonstrated remarkable | 7 | | creativity, adaptability, and resourcefulness in developing | 8 | | and implementing educational programs tailored to meet the | 9 | | diverse needs and backgrounds of incarcerated youth; he has | 10 | | also exhibited extraordinary empathy, patience, and | 11 | | understanding in working with students grappling with trauma, | 12 | | adversity, and systemic challenges, recognizing the inherent | 13 | | dignity and potential of every individual under his care; and | 14 | | WHEREAS, At the end of the 2023-2024 school year, MaryBeth | 15 | | and Jim Westin will conclude their respective careers as | 16 | | educators of Rockford's youth after more than 60 combined | 17 | | years of service to the community they have both called home | 18 | | all their lives; and | 19 | | WHEREAS, MaryBeth and Jim Westin's tireless efforts, | 20 | | passion for teaching, and commitment to excellence have set a | 21 | | standard of professionalism and excellence that will continue | 22 | | to inspire future educators for years to come, and the impact | 23 | | of their work extends far beyond the walls of the classroom, |
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| 1 | | shaping the minds and futures of generations of students and | 2 | | contributing to the fabric of our community in ways that are | 3 | | beyond measure; therefore, be it | 4 | | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE | 5 | | HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | 6 | | we congratulate MaryBeth and Jim Westin on their respective | 7 | | retirements after more than 60 combined years of teaching in | 8 | | the Rockford Region, thank them for their commitment to | 9 | | education, and wish them all the best in their future | 10 | | endeavors; and be it further | 11 | | RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be | 12 | | presented to MaryBeth and Jim Westin as a symbol of our esteem | 13 | | and respect. |
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