H.R. No. 2443
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Dr. Dawson Orr is stepping down as superintendent of
the Highland Park Independent School District on August 31, 2015,
having guided the district through a period of significant change
and growth; and
WHEREAS, A veteran school superintendent when he took the
helm of the Highland Park ISD in 2009, Dr. Orr has furthered the
district's reputation for strong academics while navigating
funding challenges and overseeing a 12 percent increase in
enrollment; in the 2013-2014 school year, Highland Park ISD and all
seven of its campuses received the accountability rating "Met
Standard" with distinctions, the highest level assigned by the
Texas Education Agency; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed administrator began his career in 1975
in Columbus, Georgia, where he served successively as a social
studies teacher and as assistant principal at Baker High School; he
then relocated to Veracruz, Mexico, to serve as a teacher and as
elementary principal and subsequently as superintendent at the
American School of Laguna Verde; after returning to Texas, he spent
15 years with the Pampa ISD as assistant superintendent and as
superintendent before becoming superintendent of the Wichita Falls
ISD in 2003; and
WHEREAS, Highly respected in his field, Dr. Orr has served as
president of the Texas Association of School Administrators, as
chair of the association's legislative committee, and as president
of the Texas Leadership Center Board, as well as co-chair of the
Texas High Performance Schools Consortium; named Superintendent of
the Year in 2008 by Communities in Schools, he was selected as Key
Communicator of the Year by the Texas School Public Relations
Association in 2005; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his extensive efforts in the arena of
public education, Dr. Orr has given generously of his time and
talents in behalf of his community as a member of the University
Park Library Advisory Committee, the Park Cities Rotary Club, and
the Education Impact Committee of the United Way of Metropolitan
Dallas; he will remain in the Park Cities to take on new
responsibilities at Southern Methodist University as a professor
and as chair of the Department of Educational Policy and Leadership
in the Simmons School of Education and Human Development; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Orr is a graduate of the University of Alabama,
where he earned his bachelor's degree in public administration and
social studies in 1975; he returned to the school to complete a
master's degree in administration and planning and an additional
master's degree as an educational specialist, and he went on to
attain his doctorate in the Cooperative Superintendency Program at
The University of Texas; and
WHEREAS, Throughout his distinguished tenure with the
Highland Park ISD, Dr. Dawson Orr has advanced the tradition of
excellence that is synonymous with that district, and Highland Park
students, faculty, and staff are indeed fortunate to have benefited
from his vision and leadership; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby honor Dr. Dawson Orr for his exceptional
accomplishments as superintendent of the Highland Park Independent
School District and extend to him sincere best wishes as he embarks
on the next exciting chapter of his career; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Dr. Orr as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Meyer
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2443 was adopted by the House on May
7, 2015, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House