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2017 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 194
BY SENATOR GATTI
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Rachel Valentine on being named Bossier Parish 2017-
2018 Middle School Teacher of the Year.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To commend Rachel Valentine on being named Bossier Parish 2017-2018 Middle School
3 Teacher of the Year.
4 WHEREAS, Rachel Valentine teaches social studies to sixth grade students at
5 Benton Middle School, in Benton, Louisiana in Bossier Parish; and
6 WHEREAS, Rachel Valentine's philosophy of teaching is that each year she sets both
7 teaching and learning goals for herself and her students, who are her first priority; and
8 WHEREAS, Ms. Valentine believes that each new school year brings in a new group
9 of students, each with their own individual learning needs, strengths, weaknesses, and
10 dreams of a successful future, and as their teacher, it is her duty and privilege to help each
11 of her students on their journey; and
12 WHEREAS, Rachel Valentine was born and raised in Bethany, Louisiana, to Monte
13 and Carol Robinson, and she graduated from Huntington High School in 1994; and
14 WHEREAS, a 2000 graduate of Louisiana State University in Shreveport, Louisiana,
15 Rachel Valentine earned a bachelor's degree in secondary education with a concentration in
16 social studies; and
17 WHEREAS, later that year, Ms. Valentine began her teaching career at Woodlawn
18 High School in Shreveport where she taught all areas of social studies through the 2009-
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1 2010 school year; and
2 WHEREAS, Rachel Valentine moved to First Baptist School Shreveport in 2010,
3 where she taught all three middle school social studies classes and served as the advisor to
4 the student council; and
5 WHEREAS, in 2013, Rachel Valentine moved to Benton Middle School in Benton,
6 Louisiana, where she teaches social studies to sixth grade students and has been the faculty
7 advisor for the student council, taking students to the Louisiana Association of Student
8 Council's state convention each year, leading the only school in Bossier Parish to attend this
9 annual event; and
10 WHEREAS, Rachel Valentine moved to Bossier, Louisiana, in 2003 where she lives
11 with her two children, Mary Frances and Charlie, and has a strong bond with her family,
12 both with her children and her larger extended family; and
13 WHEREAS, beyond her responsibilities as a parent and teacher, Ms. Valentine
14 teaches middle school Sunday school at Benton United Methodist Church, where she also
15 serves on the staff parish relations committee; and
16 WHEREAS, Rachel Valentine also volunteers at a nondenominational worship
17 service for special needs adults and children at St. Matthias Episcopal Church in Shreveport,
18 Louisiana, where she helps lead the "Rhythms of Grace" activities; and
19 WHEREAS, Rachel Valentine comes from a large family on her mother's side and
20 it is not unusual for over forty relatives to attend annual family vacations at Navarre Beach,
21 Florida; and
22 WHEREAS, the process for selecting a Louisiana Teacher of the Year begins at the
23 local level, with every public or public charter school district eligible to select a candidate
24 to represent their district, subject to their own selection process and with individual local
25 school nominations sent to the district for further review and consideration; and
26 WHEREAS, each district superintendent or public charter school district may select
27 three outstanding teachers whose names are forwarded to the Louisiana Department of
28 Education for competition at the statewide level, nominees are one each in the categories of
29 elementary, middle school, and high school teachers; and
30 WHEREAS, Ms. Valentine has used her talent for teaching, not only in her
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1 classroom, but in the broader community, and she exemplifies all the best that one could ask
2 for in a person teaching children and encouraging them in their academic, spiritual, and
3 leadership roles as they move into adulthood and become good citizens of their community.
4 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
5 does hereby commend Rachel Valentine on being named Bossier Parish 2017-2018 Middle
6 School Teacher of the Year.
7 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
8 Rachel Valentine in care of Benton Middle School.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Mary Dozier O'Brien.
DIGEST
SR 194 Original 2017 Regular Session Gatti
Commends Rachel Valentine on being named Bossier Parish 2017-2018 Middle School
Teacher of the Year.
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