HR0150 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0150 LRB102 17635 LAW 23395 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Joy A. Swoboda, Ed.D., on the occasion of her retirement as superintendent of Woodland Community Consolidated School District 50; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Swoboda began her career in education as a second grade teacher and teacher leader in Carol Stream in Community Consolidated School District 93; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Swoboda was a leader in the Woodland Community Consolidated School District 50 for 25 years; she began her administrative career as an assistant principal at the intermediate school; she then served as principal of the elementary school; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Swoboda earned her Doctor of Educational and Policy Studies from Northern Illinois University in 2000; that same year, she became assistant superintendent of Educational Services; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Swoboda was named the first female superintendent of Woodland District 50 in 2004, where she remained until her retirement; and

WHEREAS, During her tenure as superintendent, Dr. Swoboda led a relentless focus on continuous organizational improvement and doing what was in the best interests of the students, their families, and the staff; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Swoboda oversaw four district strategic plans and a number of programs and initiatives, including the Dual Language Instructional program, Woodland Inspires 1:1 tradigital technology initiative, full day kindergarten, a breakfast program, reduction in class size, and adjustment in school start times for optimal student learning; she guided a long-range facility plan of air conditioning at the elementary and primary schools to optimize school facilities for use by community groups and agencies, which was recognized with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification; she also oversaw the beginning of solar projects at the schools, which were completed in the fall of 2020; and

WHEREAS, Under Dr. Swoboda's leadership, the district saw increased student achievement, a staff retention rate of over 90%, the highest level of "Financial Recognition Status" by the Illinois State Board of Education for seven of her last eight school years, and ratings of AA+ from Standard and Poors and Aa2 from Moody's since 2013; she also worked with several outside organizations, including the Gurnee Park District, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Healthy Community Healthy Youth, on a number of initiatives supporting the Gurnee area; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Joy A. Swoboda, Ed.D., on her retirement as superintendent of Woodland Community Consolidated School District 50 and wish her many happy, healthy retirement years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Swoboda as an expression of our esteem and respect.