Full Text of HR0149 98th General Assembly
HR0149 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 1 | | HOUSE RESOLUTION
| 2 | | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of | 3 | | Representatives wish to honor Dr. Robert Willis for his work as | 4 | | the Interim Superintendent of Rockford Public Schools and | 5 | | congratulate him on his retirement; and
| 6 | | WHEREAS, Following his parents' dream of having their | 7 | | children become the first in their families to attend college, | 8 | | Robert Willis earned his bachelor's degree in physical | 9 | | education from Springfield College in 1963; he subsequently | 10 | | pursued his master's degree in school administration from Seton | 11 | | Hall University and another master's degree in physical | 12 | | education from the University of Minnesota; he later earned his | 13 | | doctorate degree in educational administration from the | 14 | | University of Minnesota; and
| 15 | | WHEREAS, Dr. Robert Willis has had a long and distinguished | 16 | | career in education; he began his career teaching physical | 17 | | science and biology and coaching varsity football in the town | 18 | | where his entire family was raised; he was subsequently hired | 19 | | as the principal of an inner city elementary school in St. | 20 | | Paul, Minnesota and later, led school districts in Minnesota | 21 | | and South Dakota before becoming superintendent in Rock Island | 22 | | and Des Plaines; and
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| 1 | | WHEREAS, As superintendent, Dr. Robert Willis worked to | 2 | | develop a clear vision for those school districts, improving | 3 | | student performance, creating innovative year-round schools, | 4 | | and pushing for the use of new technology to advance and | 5 | | improve the learning experience for students and staff; and | 6 | | WHEREAS, Dr. Robert Willis expanded his educational reach | 7 | | as a consultant and trainer, creating community visions for | 8 | | several Illinois school districts, helping institutions build | 9 | | parent partnerships to improve student learning in No Child | 10 | | Left Behind schools, and teaching graduate level courses at | 11 | | National-Louis University and Northern Illinois University; | 12 | | and
| 13 | | WHEREAS, Dr. Robert Willis led his Leadership Team in the | 14 | | effort to formulate a vision for all children built on a | 15 | | foundation of goals called Readiness Rocks, which include | 16 | | College and Career Academies, Seven Periods to Success, | 17 | | Preschool for All, 21st Century Learning Environments, and | 18 | | College for All; and | 19 | | WHEREAS, During Dr. Robert Willis' tenure, preschool | 20 | | enrollment increased by 600 students for a total enrollment of | 21 | | 2,400 three and four year olds during the 2012 school year; and | 22 | | WHEREAS, Dr. Robert Willis led the effort for the |
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| 1 | | district's school board to reduce property taxes by $18 million | 2 | | for the 2012 tax levy to provide property tax relief for | 3 | | district taxpayers; and | 4 | | WHEREAS, Dr. Robert Willis was instrumental in the | 5 | | community effort to pass the November 2012 general election | 6 | | referendum, which gave the Rockford School District authority | 7 | | to proceed with the largest and most comprehensive building | 8 | | renovation and improvement plan in the district's history; the | 9 | | first phase of the plan will result in $212 million worth of | 10 | | school improvements over 5 years; and
| 11 | | WHEREAS, Dr. Robert Willis has led his school community | 12 | | with dignity, honor, and respect using a "servant leadership" | 13 | | approach; and
| 14 | | WHEREAS, In 2006, Dr. Robert Willis began serving as | 15 | | Executive Director of the Rock River chapter of the American | 16 | | Red Cross; under his leadership, the chapter grew to represent | 17 | | more than 500,000 people in the Rock River Valley; and | 18 | | WHEREAS, Dr. Robert Willis was the recipient of the | 19 | | Illinois State Board of Education's "Break the Mold" award, a | 20 | | distinction that honors extraordinary innovation and | 21 | | commitment to educational leadership; and |
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| 1 | | WHEREAS, Dr. Robert Willis and his loving wife of 48 years, | 2 | | Judy, have 3 children and 6 grandchildren; and | 3 | | WHEREAS, Dr. Robert Willis serves as a model of hard work, | 4 | | integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of | 5 | | Illinois; therefore, be it
| 6 | | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE | 7 | | NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | 8 | | we honor Dr. Robert Willis for his work as the Interim | 9 | | Superintendent of Rockford Public Schools, congratulate him on | 10 | | his retirement, and wish him continued success and happiness in | 11 | | the future; and be it further
| 12 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | 13 | | presented to Robert Willis as a symbol of our esteem and | 14 | | respect.
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