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Regular Session, 2012 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 184
BY SENATOR PERRY
A RESOLUTION
To commend and congratulate Timala "Timmie" Melancon for receiving a 2012 Image
Award from the Louisiana Association of Educators, her outstanding teaching career
and many years of exemplary service, and her lasting contributions to public
education in Vermilion Parish and Louisiana upon the occasion of her retirement.
WHEREAS, in May, 2012, the Louisiana Association of Educators presented Timala
"Timmie" Melancon, teacher at Kaplan High School and coach of the school Speech and
Drama Team, with an Image Award, which honors outstanding educators who have
advanced the image of teachers, ESPs and administrators within Louisiana's public schools;
and
WHEREAS, during the 2011-2012 school year, she was also selected as the High
School Teacher of the Year in Vermilion Parish, marking the second time she had received
the award, the first coming in 1995, and was also selected by the Louisiana High School
Speech League as the 2011-2012 Speech Coach of the Year; and
WHEREAS, Timala Melancon, is a Gueydan native who graduated from Gueydan
High School in 1971 and began pursuit of a degree in choreographic design at the University
of Southwestern Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, after marrying and beginning a family, she returned to college and in
1982, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Speech Education and, in 1996, earned
a Master of Arts Degree in English allowing her to qualify to participate in Louisiana's Dual
Enrollment Program; and
WHEREAS, the first four years of her teaching career were at Rene Rost Middle
School, switching from eight to seventh grade reading; and
WHEREAS, in 1986 she transferred to Kaplan High School and during her
twenty-five year employment there, taught a wide array of courses including English I, II, SR NO. 184 ENROLLED
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III and honors; Speech I, II, and III; Theatre I, II, III, and advanced; competition speech, and
intervention; and
WHEREAS, in addition, for well over a decade, the name "Timmie Melancon" has
been synonymous with the Kaplan High Speech and Drama Team which she created and
developed; and
WHEREAS, her contributions to art and culture extends well beyond the classroom
as she founded the Vermilion Players in 1996; and
WHEREAS, through and with her positive guidance, teaching, and coaching many
formerly shy students became comfortable with speaking in front of an audience and
opportunities were provided for young students to witness excellent and entertaining musical
theatre featuring singing, acting, and dancing; and
WHEREAS, Timmie Melancon summarized her responsibility and goal as a teacher
and a coach as follows: "It is my responsibility as an educator to prepare young people for
life after they leave my campus, and that is where I become passionate. The most effective
teaching tool for anyone is the use of humor and I can use humor 'like nobody's business.'
Laughter is the key to life, and learning to laugh at one's self is a key to success and
happiness. Once a student learns to enjoy life, I can begin to instill in him the tools he needs
to be poised, articulate, and well spoken. I can teach any student to use their energy and
enthusiasm to achieve any goal simply by making them believe that if they work hard
enough, it has to happen."; and
WHEREAS, Timmie Melancon is married to Lonnie Melancon and she has four
sons: Ben and Jeff Suire, and Rod and Zach Melancon and the Melancon's also have five
grandchildren.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend Timala "Timmie" Melancon for receiving a 2012 Image Award from
the Louisiana Association of Educators, her outstanding teaching career and many years of
exemplary service, and her lasting contributions to public education in Vermilion Parish and
Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED best wishes are hereby extended for continued
success and happiness in all of her future endeavors. SR NO. 184 ENROLLED
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Timala Melancon.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE