SLS 19RS-6 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 43
BY SENATOR PEACOCK
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Spencer Kiper on being named 2019 Teacher of the Year
by the Louisiana Department of Education.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To commend and congratulate Spencer J. Kiper upon receipt of the 2019 Louisiana Teacher
3 of the Year award from the Louisiana Department of Education and to recognize his
4 many contributions to education and the teaching profession.
5 WHEREAS, it is appropriate at this time that the Legislature of Louisiana
6 acknowledges the exuberance and expertise that STEM educator, Spencer Kiper, brings to
7 the classroom; and
8 WHEREAS, Spencer Kiper is an education specialist in the Science, Technology,
9 Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) enrichment curricula at Elm Grove Middle School
10 in Bossier City, Louisiana; and
11 WHEREAS, Mr. Kiper is the first Bossier Parish teacher to win the overall Teacher
12 of the Year recognition and he will represent the state of Louisiana in the 2019 National
13 Teacher of the Year competition; and
14 WHEREAS, Spencer Kiper is an exceptional faculty member who has made
15 prodigious efforts to create a stronger cyber-technology presence in Northwest Louisiana,
16 to develop a more positive classroom environment with meaningful objectives to promote
17 student growth and STEM proficiency, and to curate learning opportunities that instill
18 industry-based skills and knowledge in his students; and
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1 WHEREAS, Mr. Kiper is a proud graduate of the Bossier Parish School System and
2 has praised those educators who made an impact on his scholastic life and inspired him to
3 become a teacher; and
4 WHEREAS, Mr. Kiper possesses creditable academic credentials that include an
5 Associate's degree in General Studies from Bossier Parish Community College, a Bachelor
6 of Arts degree in English and Biology Education from LSU-S, a Master of Education degree
7 in Educational Technology from the American College of Education, graduate-level course
8 work at Louisiana Tech University with emphasis in STEM and Cyber Education, and a
9 Master of Arts degree in Education, Administration, and Supervision from the University
10 of Phoenix; and
11 WHEREAS, as a certified STEM education instructor, Mr. Kiper has developed
12 study units in robotics, 3D printing and manufacturing, aerospace technology, electronics,
13 computer science, and similar hands-on educational modules; and
14 WHEREAS, while providing extraordinary motivation in the classroom, Spencer
15 Kiper embraces the responsibility as an educator to demonstrate leadership at every level,
16 as a leadership committee member for Elm Grove Middle School, as an iSTEM initiative
17 workshop facilitator for the Caddo Parish School District, as a statewide Educator Voice
18 Louisiana Fellow, and as a national staff member for Aerospace Education with the Civil Air
19 Patrol; and
20 WHEREAS, Mr. Kiper has been honored with numerous awards and recognitions
21 that include Henry Ford Innovator of the Year, National Aerospace Teacher of the Year from
22 the Civil Air Patrol, Educator Crew Wings from the United States Space & Rocket Center,
23 2014 Teacher of the Year from Elm Grove Middle School, state and regional Middle School
24 Teacher of the Year from the Louisiana Association of Computer Using Educators, and an
25 Educators at Space Academy Fellowship from Honeywell International; and
26 WHEREAS, Spencer Kiper also provides instruction as an adjunct professor of
27 education at LSU-S in the fields of Educational Technology and STEM curricula; and
28 WHEREAS, he received an invitation from STEM Revolution to assist in the
29 implementation of a STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art, and
30 Mathematics) training initiative in collaboration with the Ministry of Education of the
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1 United Arab Emirates in Dubai; and
2 WHEREAS, STEM curriculum objectives purport to teach students how to approach
3 solutions to solve complex problems, develop effective communication skills, and engage
4 in a variety of meaningful ways with fellow students; and
5 WHEREAS, Mr. Kiper promotes these goals with inspiration and encouragement that
6 challenges his students to develop a lifelong interest in learning and to acquire those
7 analytical skills necessary to become effective decision makers; and
8 WHEREAS, on July 27, 2018, Spencer Kiper and other state-level honorees were
9 celebrated at the Twelfth Annual Cecil J. Picard Educator Excellence Awards Gala; and
10 WHEREAS, the annual competition, hosted by the Louisiana State Department of
11 Education and the Dream Teachers nonprofit organization, recognizes several categories of
12 outstanding individual achievement in classroom instruction and school administration; it
13 exemplifies the highest honor bestowed on state educators by the department; and
14 WHEREAS, by upholding the highest standards of the teaching profession, Spencer
15 Kiper is most worthy of this prestigious award; he embodies excellence in instruction for his
16 chosen curriculum and devotion to the academic needs of his students; and
17 WHEREAS, Spencer Kiper has proved to be a superb educator with a myriad of
18 talents whose dedication to STEM education has been a priceless gift to the state of
19 Louisiana.
20 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
21 commend and congratulate Spencer J. Kiper upon receipt of the 2019 Teacher of the Year
22 award from the Louisiana Department of Education and does hereby recognize his many
23 contributions to further STEM education.
24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
25 Spencer Kiper, Principal Jennifer Armond of Elm Grove Middle School, and Superintendent
26 Mitch Downey of the Bossier Parish School System.
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Suzi Montague.
DIGEST
SCR 43 Original 2019 Regular Session Peacock
Commends Spencer Kiper upon receipt of the 2019 Louisiana Teacher of the Year award.
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