HR0945 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0945 LRB096 21262 KXB 37330 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Donald E. "Don" Perry, Kennedy Junior High School Principal in Naperville, on his retirement and successful career as an educator and civil service leader; and

WHEREAS, Don Perry started his education career after graduating from Olivet Nazarene University in 1976; he began teaching at Alan Shepard School and Shabbona Elementary in Bourbonnais, and taught there for 3 years before moving to Crete, where he taught at Crete Elementary School for 5 years; and

WHEREAS, Don Perry took a brief break from teaching to receive more education at Illinois State University, where he graduated with a Master's in Education Administration; and

WHEREAS, Don Perry became the Assistant Principal at Palos West Elementary School in Palos West, and then moved on to become Principal at Beebe Elementary School in Naperville, later becoming Principal of Kennedy Junior High School, also in Naperville, where has served for the past 12 years; and

WHEREAS, Throughout his educational career Don Perry has helped his schools achieve national and State recognition in excellence, including being recognized in 2002 and 2008 as a Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education, declaring that the school was both academically superior and there were dramatic gains in student achievement to high levels; and

WHEREAS, During Don Perry's tenure, Kennedy Junior High School received recognition from the Association of Illinois Middle Schools and the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois Horizon School Award in 2002 and 2008, and "Those Who Excel" Award for School Excellence in 2001; and

WHEREAS, Don Perry was named to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities and was an nominee for the "Those Who Excel" award presented by the Illinois State Board of Education; and

WHEREAS, Don Perry has not only committed his life to education but has also committed himself to civil service, as a graduate of the Citizens Police Academy; he served as Chairman to the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners in Naperville; he has also been involved with numerous boards and committees and has been adamant in his fund-raising for numerous Naperville organizations, such as the United Way, the Naperville Historic Society, the American Cancer Society, Veterans Poppy Day, the American Heart Association, Citizens Appreciate Police/CAP Awards, and Naperville's Millennium Carillon Drive; and

WHEREAS, Don Perry has committed himself to excellence in education and civil duty, has inspired and served as a role model for both children and adults throughout his life; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Kennedy Junior High School Principal Donald E. "Don" Perry on his retirement and successful career in education and civil service; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Donald E. "Don" Perry as a symbol of our respect and esteem.