HR0392 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0392 LRB101 12525 MST 60841 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Martha A. "Marti" Bierdeman on the occasion of her retirement from East Peoria Elementary School District 86, where she has been a fifth grade teacher for gifted students; and

WHEREAS, Marti Bierdeman began her career at North County Christian School in St. Louis, teaching sixth grade; she moved to Elmwood Elementary School and began teaching fifth grade math and science and coaching the girls basketball team; and

WHEREAS, Marti Bierdeman took a break from teaching to raise her three children, Christopher, Katherine, and Cory, with her husband, Paul; and

WHEREAS, Marti Bierdeman returned to teaching as a substitute teacher at Peoria Christian School; from there she took a position as a long-term substitute and then became a full-time teacher at Paul Bolin Elementary School in District 86; she was given her own 5th grade class to teach in 1998 and was then asked to teach the 5th grade gifted students in 2002; and

WHEREAS, Marti Bierdeman frequently brought exciting learning experiences to her students with activities both inside and outside the classroom, such as building Rube Goldberg machines, mouse trap racers, and the rocket launch; the Rube Goldberg machines won a local Engineer in the Classroom Award four times and the statewide award twice; she also coached the Lego League from 2006-2018, and the team advanced to the Illinois State Tournament every year; and

WHEREAS, Marti Bierdeman's commitment to her students went beyond learning activities; she applied for grants to further her students' education and was able to secure grants from the Toshiba America Foundation, PNC Teacher, and the District 86 Foundation; and

WHEREAS, In recognition of her dedication and achievement, the East Peoria City Council named April 1, 2003 Marti Bierdeman Day; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Martha A. "Marti" Bierdeman on her retirement from Paul Bolin Elementary School, and we commend her lifelong dedication to education; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented Marti Bierdeman as an expression of our esteem and respect.