HR0225 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0225 LRB094 11714 HSS 43593 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Education is one of the most noble pursuits one can choose in life; and

WHEREAS, Sherry R. Eagle, Superintendent of Schools for Aurora West School District 129, will be retiring after 34 years in education; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Eagle received her B.A. in elementary education with honors in 1970; she earned an M.S.T. in reading education/curriculum development with honors in 1974 and a C.A.S. in educational administration/curriculum development with honors in 1982; she earned her Ed.D. in leadership and educational policy studies with honors in 1994; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Eagle began her teaching career at Caroline Sibley Elementary School in Calumet City in 1971 as a third grade teacher; she was a reading specialist from 1975 to 1985 at Thornwood High School, where she worked as Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Special Education from 1985 to 1989; she has served as an Adjunct Faculty member at Aurora University since 1995; in 1989, she became the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum of the Aurora West School District 129, where she has served as Superintendent of Schools since 1993; and

WHEREAS, During her educational career, Dr. Eagle has several noted accomplishments; she designed and implemented PreK-12 programs in reading, mathematics, sciences, social studies, fine arts, physical education, foreign language, health occupations, and technology; she created high school and middle school alternative education schools in partnership with the City of Aurora, East Aurora School District, Indian Prairie School District, and the Quad County Urban League that have virtually eliminated the need for expulsion of students; she changed the District bond rating from Baa to A+, which resulted in savings of several hundred thousand dollars for taxpayers; and

WHEREAS, She implemented partnerships that maximize School District 129's human and fiscal resources; she has managed the District budget that has tripled in revenues; under her leadership two new elementary schools and two new middle schools were designed and constructed, five new additions were built, renovations of all district buildings were conducted, and she was responsible for acquiring land and equipment totaling over $150,000,000; she developed and implemented the School District 129 Read With Me Foundation to promote a community reading campaign and produced and directed three Leap Year Follies, raising $25,000 for the Foundation for the West Aurora Schools; and

WHEREAS, She has been the recipient of several awards and honors; she was a member of Pi Lambda Theta National Honor Society at the University of Chicago; she received the Friend of Education Award from the Illinois Education Association in 1987; she was an NIU Candidate for AASA Outstanding Graduate Student in 1992; she was named one of the Women of Distinction by the YWCA in 1993, received the Leading Us in Commerce and Industry Award in 1998, the Break the Mold Superintendent by the Illinois State Board of Education in 2001, the Quad County Urban League Leadership Award in 2002, the League of United Latin American Citizens "Excellence in Education Award" in 2004, and an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Aurora University in 2004; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Eagle is very active in her community and State and has been a presenter and commencement speaker at several notable events; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Dr. Sherry R. Eagle on the occasion of her retirement, and we thank her for many years devoted to the education of students; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Eagle as an expression of our respect and esteem and with best wishes for a relaxing retirement.