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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to congratulate Christine Zelenka, Ed.D.
4on the occasion of her retirement as principal of John B.
5Murphy Elementary School; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Dr. Zelenka is retiring after leading John B.
7Murphy Elementary School for over 14 years, making her only
8the eighth principal in the school's almost 100-year history
9of serving the children of Irving Park; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Dr. Zelenka received her Bachelor of Arts in
11Early Childhood Education & Teaching from the University of
12Michigan; she received her Master of Education in Education
13Leadership & Administration from National Louis University;
14she earned her Doctor of Education in Urban Education
15Leadership from the University of Illinois; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Dr. Zelenka began her distinguished career with
17Chicago Public Schools as a classroom teacher at Onahan
18Elementary School in 1988; she became assistant principal of
19John B. Murphy Elementary School in 1997; she was selected to
20become principal by the Local School Council in 2008; and
 
21    WHEREAS, During her tenure at John B. Murphy Elementary

 

 

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1School (Murphy), Dr. Zelenka has hosted developing resident
2principals as they completed principal readiness training at
3Chicago Public Schools, woven social and emotional learning
4(SEL) into Murphy's school culture by sustaining a 25-year
5practice of Responsive Classroom and close affiliation with
6CASEL, championed the return of middle school and building out
7of Pre-K programming to ensure that Murphy provides an
8inspiring and encouraging learning environment for all
9neighborhood children in grades Pre-K through 8th, led the
10school's Fine & Performing Arts magnet cluster program to
11ensure that all students experience the arts, and fostered
12community and ritual as part of school-life through annual
13traditions, including Career Day, the Spelling Bee,
14Bike-Fix-It Day, Twins Day, History Fair, Clothes Swap, and
15the Oceanarium; she also oversaw the recruitment and retention
16of exceptional faculty in addition to the renovation of
17Murphy's gymnasium, stage, and outdoor gardens; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Dr. Zelenka has not only devoted herself to the
19development of John B. Murphy Elementary School's students but
20also the parents and the community at large; she identified
21and encouraged parent leaders to serve as advocates,
22educators, and organizers within the school community; she
23built relationships, hosted events, and provided resources to
24community members and groups; more recently, she kept students
25and the community safe throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,

 

 

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1school-reopening, and ongoing recovery response; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Dr. Zelenka has served on National Louis
3University's Teacher Preparation Advisory Board for 8 years,
4where she is a strong advocate for authentic and effective
5teacher preparation that meets the needs of today's young
6people, particularly in urban environments; she also served as
7a first-year principal mentor for new principals at Chicago
8Public Schools as they took on full administrative
9responsibility while leading their new schools; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Dr. Zelenka has been noted for excelling as a
11transparent, accessible, and empathetic communicator at all
12times; she has also inspired generations of students,
13families, and neighbors by modeling positivity, resilience,
14and inclusion; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Dr. Zelenka and her husband, Rich, have two
16children, Phil and Beth; her parents live in the neighborhood,
17and she regularly cares for them and their interests;
18therefore, be it
 
19    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
20HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
21we congratulate Christine Zelenka, Ed.D., on her retirement as
22principal of John B. Murphy Elementary School, thank her for

 

 

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1her dedication to the students and the community, and wish her
2success in her future endeavors; and be it further
 
3    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
4presented to Dr. Zelenka as an expression of our esteem and
5respect.