SLS 16RS-2378 ORIGINAL
2016 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 105
BY SENATOR MORRISH
SENATE. Declares Wednesday, May 4, 2016, as Teacher Appreciation Day.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To designate Wednesday, May 4, 2016, as Teacher Appreciation Day at the state capitol.
3 WHEREAS, public school teachers, nonpublic school teachers, and parents who
4 serve as home study teachers serve the needs of nearly nine hundred thousand Louisiana
5 children from birth to twelfth grade; and
6 WHEREAS, Louisiana teachers serve students in diverse settings including
7 pre-kindergarten programs, traditional and charter public schools, nonpublic schools,
8 parochial schools, Montessori schools, virtual schools, home schools, and early learning
9 centers; and
10 WHEREAS, the efforts of over forty-seven thousand Louisiana public school
11 teachers have resulted in tremendous gains for Louisiana students, which for the 2014-2015
12 school year included leading sixty-seven percent of third through fifth grade students to
13 score basic or above in English language arts and math, sixty-three percent of middle school
14 students to score basic or above in English language arts and math, sixty-two percent of high
15 school students to earn scores of Good or Excellent on End of Course Tests, thirty-three
16 thousand two hundred thirty-one students to attempt college-level Advanced Placement (AP)
17 coursework, seven thousand seven hundred three students to earn AP credit, six hundred
18 thirty students to attempt International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, six hundred twenty-three
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SLS 16RS-2378 ORIGINAL
1 to earn IB credit, nineteen thousand three hundred eighty-two students to attempt dual
2 enrollment coursework, eleven thousand eighteen to earn an Industry Based Credential, and
3 seventy-seven and one-half percent of the 2015 cohort to earn their high school diploma, the
4 highest cohort graduation rate in the state's history; and
5 WHEREAS, teachers are not only expected to be experts in their content and
6 pedagogical approaches, but also in the individual interests, strengths, and needs of their
7 students and communities, often teaching multiple siblings, relatives, and generations of
8 students during their careers; and
9 WHEREAS, teachers' responsibilities can extend far beyond those listed in their job
10 descriptions, and their time commitment can extend far beyond the daily bell to bell; it is not
11 uncommon for teachers to make extra time for parents before the school day starts, squeeze
12 in tutoring during the few free minutes of the school day, run clubs or coach sports after
13 school, chaperone, supervise, or cheer on students during weekends, and instruct students
14 who need extra help over the summer; and
15 WHEREAS, teachers often reach beyond their students to ensure that parents,
16 grandparents, and extended families, who may have struggled in school themselves, receive
17 the knowledge and resources they desire to help their children in any way they can; and
18 WHEREAS, while society holds teachers to the highest professional standards,
19 expecting them to serve as model citizens by demonstrating patience, empathy, and fairness
20 always, many teachers surpass our expectations by choosing to serve as mentors, counselors,
21 and even parents when students lack the needed and deserved support; and
22 WHEREAS, countless Louisiana citizens attribute their professional success and
23 personal happiness to a teacher who chose to care.
24 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
25 does hereby commend the dedicated work and contributions of all teachers across the state
26 of Louisiana; does hereby extend enduring appreciation and gratitude for their role in
27 shaping the intellect and character of our next generation; and does hereby designate
28 Wednesday, May 3, 2016, as Teacher Appreciation Day at the state capitol.
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SLS 16RS-2378 ORIGINAL
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Nancy Vicknair.
DIGEST
SR 105 Original 2016 Regular Session Morrish
Designates Wednesday, May 4, 2016, as Teacher Appreciation Day at the state capitol.
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