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| 3 | 4 | | |
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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Arnoldo F. Benavides is retiring as principal of |
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| 6 | 7 | | Freddy Gonzalez Elementary School in Edinburg on June 16, 2017, |
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| 7 | 8 | | drawing to a close a notable career in education that has spanned |
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| 8 | 9 | | more than half a century; and |
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| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Benavides graduated from La Joya High School in |
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| 10 | 11 | | 1960 and went on to earn a bachelor's degree in elementary education |
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| 11 | 12 | | from The University of Texas--Pan American and a master's degree in |
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| 12 | 13 | | counseling and guidance from Texas Tech University; after beginning |
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| 13 | 14 | | his career as a teacher in the Edcouch-Elsa Independent School |
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| 14 | 15 | | District, he joined the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School |
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| 15 | 16 | | District in 1971; he subsequently served as director of the UTPA |
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| 16 | 17 | | Head Start Training Center for 12 years before returning to |
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| 17 | 18 | | Edinburg CISD in 1984; and |
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| 18 | 19 | | WHEREAS, Over the course of his tenure, Mr. Benavides has |
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| 19 | 20 | | served the district in a variety of positions, including as a |
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| 20 | 21 | | counselor, curriculum specialist, teacher, and tutor; he was named |
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| 21 | 22 | | principal of the Edinburg Alternative Education Academy in 1988 and |
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| 22 | 23 | | appointed to the same role at Robert E. Lee Elementary School in |
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| 23 | 24 | | 1992, and he has held his current position since 2004; under his |
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| 24 | 25 | | able leadership, Freddy Gonzalez Elementary has been accorded a |
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| 25 | 26 | | host of honors from such organizations as the Texas Education |
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| 26 | 27 | | Agency, the Texas Business and Education Coalition, and the |
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| 27 | 28 | | National Center for Educational Achievement, among many others; and |
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| 28 | 29 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Benavides has distinguished himself through |
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| 29 | 30 | | leadership positions with numerous professional organizations; he |
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| 30 | 31 | | has served as president of the local chapter of the Texas |
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| 31 | 32 | | Association for the Education of Young Children and as a member of |
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| 32 | 33 | | the National Head Start Association board; moreover, he has served |
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| 33 | 34 | | the Edinburg community as a city councilman and as mayor pro tem; |
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| 34 | 35 | | and |
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| 35 | 36 | | WHEREAS, Arnoldo Benavides has made a positive impact in the |
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| 36 | 37 | | lives of countless young Texans throughout his long and commendable |
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| 37 | 38 | | career with Edinburg CISD, and he may reflect with great pride on |
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| 38 | 39 | | his achievements as he embarks on the next exciting chapter of his |
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| 39 | 40 | | life; now, therefore, be it |
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| 40 | 41 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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| 41 | 42 | | Legislature hereby congratulate Arnoldo F. Benavides on his |
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| 42 | 43 | | retirement as principal of Freddy Gonzalez Elementary School and |
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| 43 | 44 | | extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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| 44 | 45 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 45 | 46 | | prepared for Mr. Benavides as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 46 | 47 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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