H.R. No. 1115
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Valerie Nelson of Walter L. Wilkinson Middle School
has been chosen by the Mesquite Independent School District Council
of PTAs as the 2010-2011 Secondary School Principal of the Year; and
WHEREAS, An educator for nearly two decades, Mrs. Nelson has
served as principal of Wilkinson Middle for three years, and in that
brief time she has significantly enhanced student performance; when
she arrived, the school was deemed "Acceptable" by the Texas
Education Agency and served a population reported to be more than 70
percent economically disadvantaged; Mrs. Nelson worked closely
with faculty and staff to create a positive vision for the school
and its students, and by 2010, Wilkinson Middle had earned
"Recognized" status and was rated as exemplary in all but one
subject; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Nelson is a graduate of Grambling State
University in Louisiana, earning her bachelor's and master's
degrees in education in 1992 and 1995; she began her career in 1992
as a remedial reading and math teacher and subsequently taught
first grade; she came to Texas in 1995 to work in Mesquite schools;
and
WHEREAS, For five years, she taught first and third grades at
Jay Thompson Elementary School while also completing a degree in
management at Texas A&M University--Commerce; in 2000, Mrs. Nelson
received the Mesquite ISD's highest honor when she was named an
Apple Corps teacher; soon thereafter, she became assistant
principal at Elsie Shands and J. C. Austin Elementary Schools,
dividing her time between the campuses for a year and then
continuing on at J. C. Austin Elementary through 2004, when she was
named principal of Mary L. Moss Elementary School; during her
tenure there, the school earned "Recognized" status for three
consecutive years; she has served in her current post at Wilkinson
Middle School since 2008; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Nelson has contributed to her professional
community through her membership in the Association for Supervision
and Curriculum Development, the Texas Association of Secondary
School Principals, and the Mesquite Education Association; she is
also active in the NAACP and the Dallas Alumnae chapter of Delta
Sigma Theta, Inc., and she serves as a leader of Troop No. 2923 of
the Girl Scouts of America; she has further distinguished herself
as a codirector of the children's ministry at the Mesquite
Friendship Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, In all of her endeavors, Mrs. Nelson enjoys the love
and support of her husband of 14 years, Barrett, and she takes great
pride in their two children, Kyla and Khari; and
WHEREAS, The commitment to excellence that Valerie Nelson has
brought to her efforts at Wilkinson Middle School has inspired
faculty, staff, and students alike, and she is helping many young
Texans to acquire the skills they will need to build fulfilling and
productive lives; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Valerie Nelson on her selection as
the 2010-2011 Secondary School Principal of the Year by the
Mesquite Independent School District Council of PTAs and extend to
her sincere best wishes for continued success with her important
work; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mrs. Nelson as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Burkett
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1115 was adopted by the House on April
14, 2011, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House