HR1341 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1341 LRB096 22630 KXB 41952 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to honor Beverly Turkal on the occasion of her retirement from a long and distinguished career in education; and

WHEREAS, Beverly Turkal began her career as a teacher in school districts in both Cook County and Jasper County; in 1979, she received her first administrative position as a Principal in the Jasper County School District, before becoming the district's Director of Buildings and Grounds and Special Education Coordinator; and

WHEREAS, In 1986, she accepted the Assistant Superintendent position in the Robinson School District and became the district's Superintendent five years later; upon her retirement in 1994, she served as a consultant for administrator searches; and

WHEREAS, Beverly Turkal then utilized her outstanding teacher mentoring skills as the Student Teaching Coordinator at Eastern Illinois University; she continued her commitment to education with her election to a position on the Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Board of Trustees from 1997 to 2001; and

WHEREAS, She also aided school districts in need of experienced guidance, serving short periods as Interim Superintendent in the East Richland, Brussels, and Robinson School Districts, and Assistant Superintendent at East Richland; and

WHEREAS, Beverly Turkal was appointed by Governor George Ryan as a member of the Illinois State Board of Education, where she served with distinction from 2001 to 2004; and

WHEREAS, She later took on a new venture by stepping in as General Manager of Quail Creek Country Club in Robinson, bringing stability and leadership to one of south central Illinois' premier golf courses and resorts; and

WHEREAS, Beverly Turkal's latest professional venture led her to a three and a half year tenure as President of Lincoln Trail College in Robinson; among her greatest accomplishments at Lincoln Trail was the establishment of a long-sought welding program to benefit the growing technical and vocational needs of Crawford County and the surrounding area; and

WHEREAS, Beverly Turkal holds Bachelor's, Master's, and Specialist Degrees from Eastern Illinois University; in April of 2010, she was recognized with the EIU Distinguished Graduate Alumni Award for her tireless work for the betterment of Illinois' public schools; she credits her much-needed receipt of an EIU undergraduate scholarship as the catalyst for her chosen career path; and

WHEREAS, Beverly Turkal has served as a model of hard work, integrity, dedication, and success for the people of the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Beverly Turkal on the occasion of her retirement from a lifetime of devotion to education and wish her many happy and healthy retirement years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Beverly Turkal as a symbol of our esteem and respect.