HR0020 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0020 LRB094 06431 CSA 36519 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Martha J. Barnes, an esteemed resident of Chicago, is retiring January 31, 2005 after 34 years of dedicated service in public education; and

WHEREAS, Martha is currently the Dean in the Adult Education Program at Olive-Harvey College in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, She has been a significant force behind many of the accomplishments and successes of the Adult Education Program; she has provided leadership and supervision to over 100 administrative, instructional, clerical, and student support staff, including bargained-for employees; and

WHEREAS, She has managed an adult education program that serves more than 6,000 students yearly in Adult Basic Education, English as a Second Language, and General Educational Development; and

WHEREAS, In addition to her excellent leadership abilities, she was one of the pioneers who implemented the innovative instructional program for 100 "at-risk" high school youth in a community college environment; and

WHEREAS, She is also a part of the President's Executive Council that acts as a "Think Tank" for the College and related issues in higher education; and

WHEREAS, Additionally, she directed a pre-credit developmental program that served more than 500 high school graduates seeking Associates of Arts degrees, and is the author of Reading and Critical Thinking in the Content Areas, published by Contemporary Books; and

WHEREAS, Martha has helped sponsor faculty and staff development activities, such as improving the criteria for the adult basic education and GED level students and coordinating a "Community Blitz" which increased student enrollment tremendously; and

WHEREAS, She has continually sought professional development activities, not only for the Adult Education Program, but also for the entire College by encouraging participation and attendance at conferences; and

WHEREAS, Martha Barnes is fondly called "Queen Dean" by many of her colleagues because of her commitment to doing the "right thing" in everything she does; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we commend Martha Barnes on the occasion of her retirement, we thank her for her many years of outstanding dedicated service to the education of the students of Olive-Harvey College, and we wish her all the best in her retirement; and be it further

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