81R2870 BPG-D
By: Callegari H.R. No. 41
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Katy Independent School District acquired a fine
new place of learning with the dedication of Ursula Stephens
Elementary School in August 2007, and it is indeed fitting to pay
tribute to the opening of this campus and to the distinguished Katy
educator for whom it is named; and
WHEREAS, Ursula Stephens grew up in the San Antonio area and
gained her first experience as a mentor by helping to look after her
seven siblings; a native Spanish speaker, she had to work hard to
master English for her schoolwork, and she later applied the same
dedication to her other studies; she went on to earn bachelor's and
master's degrees in education from Our Lady of the Lake University
of San Antonio and also holds mid-management certification from the
University of Houston; and
WHEREAS, Her career as an educator began with the San Antonio
ISD in 1966, and she also taught in the Lubbock and Spring Branch
public schools; after joining Katy ISD, she proved her exceptional
abilities as a classroom teacher at Williamsburg Settlement
Elementary before serving as an assistant principal at Sundown
Elementary and Nottingham Country Elementary; and
WHEREAS, In 1985, Ms. Stephens was promoted to the position
of principal at Nottingham and later became the head administrator
at Sundown and at McRoberts Elementary; in all of her assignments,
this skilled educator worked to instill a passion for learning in
each of her students; she garnered a number of awards for her
accomplishments, becoming the 1981 Teacher of the Year at Terrace
Elementary in Spring Branch and being named the Region IV Regular
Educator of the Year in 1996 by the Gulf Coast Administrators of
Special Education; in addition, she has been included in Who's Who
Among American Teachers and Educators and is a lifetime member of
the Texas Parent Teacher Association; and
WHEREAS, In 2000, Ms. Stephens chose to return to the
classroom and became a Spanish teacher at Cinco Ranch High School;
there, as in her other positions, her imaginative approach to
teaching resulted in innovative techniques; students were
especially fond of the weekly meetings that took place in a local
Mexican restaurant, where they could practice their Spanish skills
while sampling the culinary culture of Mexico; and
WHEREAS, Though Ms. Stephens concluded her career with Katy
ISD after an impressive 22-year tenure, she continues to influence
aspiring educators as the supervisor for alternative certification
interns at Texas A&M University; and
WHEREAS, Through more than four decades in the field of
education, Ursula Stephens has carried forth her guiding belief
that all students are capable of succeeding regardless of
circumstance, and this admirable maxim will long inspire the
teachers and administrators in the school that bears her name; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby commemorate the dedication of Ursula Stephens
Elementary School in Katy and commend Ms. Stephens for her
outstanding service to the teaching profession and to the citizens
of Katy; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Ursula Stephens Elementary School as an expression of
high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.