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