SLS 19RS-37 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 44
BY SENATOR PEACOCK
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Dr. T. Lamar Goree, Caddo Parish School
Superintendent, on being named the 2019 Superintendent of the Year.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To commend T. Lamar Goree PhD, upon being named the 2019 Superintendent of the Year
3 by the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents and to record his myriad of
4 accomplishments in education and his many contributions to the Caddo Parish
5 School System, to his community, and to the state of Louisiana.
6 WHEREAS, in December 2013, Dr. T. Lamar Goree was appointed superintendent
7 of Caddo Parish Public Schools to monitor 5,500 employees and advance the academic
8 progress of a school district that consisted of more than 40,000 students among sixty-six
9 school administrations; and
10 WHEREAS, it was a herculean task, however, Superintendent Goree possessed great
11 momentum and was well-equipped to take up the challenge; and
12 WHEREAS, Dr. Goree implemented a litany of new initiatives to promote more
13 positive learning cultures in the classroom and to address inadequacies in the district that had
14 suppressed student assessment outcomes from literacy, math skills, and ACT scores to high
15 school graduation rates; and
16 WHEREAS, one of these new innovations was the creation of the Caddo
17 Transformation Next Zone, a plan to change fourteen of the most challenged schools into
18 high performance education centers; these sweeping changes involved ambitious goals,
Page 1 of 3 SCR NO. 44
SLS 19RS-37 ORIGINAL
1 community-based accountability, intensive support for teachers, and broad decision-making
2 authority for administrators; and
3 WHEREAS, Dr. Goree also expanded equitable student access to accelerated
4 programs in curricula such as advanced placement (AP), dual enrollment, and ACT
5 preparatory opportunities; and
6 WHEREAS, the district-wide implementation of the Response to Intervention
7 program provided educators with effective tools to assist those students who struggled with
8 certain skill deficits with timely solutions; and
9 WHEREAS, Dr. Goree doubled the available funding for instructional technology;
10 and
11 WHEREAS, through diligence, hard work, and a sharp focus on the task at hand, his
12 accomplishments are rooted in a rather unique formula for each school that includes
13 promotion of a positive learning environment with elements of community activity and
14 parental involvement and administrative support for teachers and school employees; and
15 WHEREAS, Dr. Goree actively incorporates information technology and social
16 media to maintain in-the-moment communications with students, parents, and faculty; and
17 WHEREAS, these innovations have been only half of the equation; the second half
18 requires the placement of highly-competent principals, school administrators, and effective
19 classroom teachers who are all vital to improvements in academic achievement; and
20 WHEREAS, while a native of Shreveport and the son of two extraordinary educators,
21 Dr. Goree is also a proud graduate of Huntington High School and other exceptional
22 academic credentials include a Bachelor of Arts in Management from Morehouse College,
23 and a Master in Education, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies,
24 both from the University of Texas at Arlington; and
25 WHEREAS, implementing his depth of work experience as a math teacher, school
26 principal, and assistant superintendent, Dr. Goree developed an instant rapport with teachers
27 and school administrators under his leadership; and
28 WHEREAS, in 2018, under his tutelage, the Caddo Parish School System had
29 produced two Louisiana Students of the Year, and in 2019, honored the state Middle School
30 Teacher of the Year; and
Page 2 of 3 SCR NO. 44
SLS 19RS-37 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, Dr. Goree is active within the Shreveport community as a member of
2 the Downtown Rotary, Committee of 100, Step Forward, Strategic Action Council, Caddo
3 Children and Youth Planning Board, and the Caddo Sheriff's Safety Town Advisory Board;
4 and
5 WHEREAS, Dr. Goree is an educational leader of the highest order who seeks to
6 ensure the best quality education possible for Caddo Parish students as they prepare for
7 higher education opportunities and career options; and
8 WHEREAS, the Legislature of Louisiana wishes to recognize Dr. T. Lamar Goree
9 for his rigorous devotion of time, energy, and talent to the fullest development of his
10 students as informed, capable, and productive citizens.
11 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
12 commend Caddo Parish School Superintendent, Dr. T. Lamar Goree, upon his selection as
13 2019 Superintendent of the Year by the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents.
14 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby wish
15 continued success for Dr. T. Lamar Goree as he maintains the highest academic standards
16 of student performance.
17 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
18 Dr. T. Lamar Goree, Caddo Parish School Superintendent, and to Mary Trammel, Caddo
19 Parish School Board President.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Suzi Montague.
DIGEST
SCR 44 Original 2019 Regular Session Peacock
Commends Dr. T. Lamar Goree, Caddo Parish School Superintendent, upon selection as the
2019 Superintendent of the Year.
Page 3 of 3