83R11233 STE-D
By: Farias H.R. No. 1286
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Gabriela Ortega, a fine arts teacher at Adams
Elementary School in San Antonio, has been selected as the
2012-2013 Harlandale Independent School District Teacher of the
Year; and
WHEREAS, Born in Mexico, Ms. Ortega was 11 years old when she
moved to the United States with her family; she graduated at the top
of her class from Robert E. Lee High School and expanded her skills
at the North East School of the Arts, a magnet program; her
exceptional work earned her scholarships to the University of the
Incarnate Word, where she graduated magna cum laude; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Ortega joined the Adams faculty in 2009 and
immediately set about creating the school's fine arts curriculum
from scratch; today, Adams students can study drawing, painting,
watercolors, ceramics, printmaking, and sculpture, in addition to
music, keyboard, and choir; although her first student art show
attracted only 20 people, her hard work and persistence soon led to
an immensely popular event that now draws up to 600 visitors each
year; and
WHEREAS, This dynamic educator also helped start an
after-school arts club with Communities in Schools, and she serves
as the coordinator of the annual HISD art show and as the
representative of Adams Elementary for the Cultural Arts Parade;
moreover, she tutors bilingual students in preparation for state
testing; she is a talented artist and has exhibited her work at the
Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center and the Blue Star Arts Complex; and
WHEREAS, Through her ingenuity, energy, and genuine
enthusiasm, Gabriela Ortega has inspired her students to embrace
their creativity, and in so doing, she has fostered in them an
increased appreciation of the arts; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Gabriela Ortega on her selection as
the 2012-2013 Teacher of the Year by the Harlandale Independent
School District 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 Ms. Ortega as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.