2023 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 77
BY SENATOR MILLIGAN
A RESOLUTION
To commend and congratulate Lana Gilliam on the occasion of her retirement after forty-
eight years as a kindergarten teacher.
WHEREAS, born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, Lana Gilliam graduated from
John L. McClellan High School in 1971; and
WHEREAS, while attending Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas,
Lana married Bobby S. Gilliam in January 1975 and graduated in May of that year; and
WHEREAS, she began her career teaching kindergarten at First Baptist Church
Sunday School in Arkadelphia and moved with her family to Baton Rouge where she taught
kindergarten at Bakerfield Elementary School in Baker, Louisiana, for three years while her
husband finished his law degree at L.S.U.; and
WHEREAS, Lana moved to Shreveport in 1978 as a kindergarten teacher at Eden
Gardens Elementary Magnet (formerly Eden Gardens Elementary School), teaching in the
same classroom for forty-five years; and
WHEREAS, during her career Lana has taught approximately 1,240 five-year olds
in addition to having taught many of her students' parents in her classroom; and
WHEREAS, always believing that "school should be fun", as her students moved to
middle school, Lana would invite them back for some teacher advice and to have a party;
and
WHEREAS, when her pupils graduated from high school, Lana would send each one
a "graduation packet" of kindergarten memories including photos and artwork from their
time in her classroom along with their "When I Grow Up" paper; and
WHEREAS, recognized as an Outstanding Teacher in 1986 by KTBS Television
Station, Lana continued her work having a positive impact on the many young people in her
classroom; and
WHEREAS, knowing that August may be a little sad without her pupils, Lana's
attitude is the same she instilled in others: "Having a plan is half the battle even if you have
to improvise and utilize Option B or even sometimes Option C".
Page 1 of 2 SR NO. 77 ENROLLED
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
hereby congratulates Lana Gilliam on the occasion of her retirement from the Caddo Parish
Public School System as a kindergarten teacher after forty-five years at Eden Gardens
Elementary Magnet and further acknowledges and commends Lana for her dedication and
professionalism during her forty-eight year career as a teacher.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Lana Gilliam.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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