89R12832 BK-D
By: Y. Davis of Dallas H.R. No. 162
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Shirley Ison-Newsome is being honored with the 2025
Living Legend Award at the Texas Alliance of Black School Educators
State Conference in Galveston on February 15, 2025; and
WHEREAS, Over the course of an exemplary career spanning four
decades, Ms. Ison-Newsome distinguished herself as a teacher,
principal, and area superintendent, and during her 38 years with
the Dallas Independent School District, she also served as its
first dean of instruction and first chief of staff; under her
leadership, dozens of campuses saw vast improvements in
performance, and she was involved in many initiatives, including
the development of the Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy at A.
Maceo Smith; and
WHEREAS, This respected educator has garnered a multitude of
accolades, among them the Julia Brogdon Purnell Humanitarian Award
from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and in 2017, she was inducted
into the African American Education Archives & History Program Hall
of Fame; in addition, her footprints were installed on the Social
Justice Walk of Fame at Friendship West Baptist Church in Dallas to
honor her lifelong civil rights activism; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Ison-Newsome holds degrees from Indiana
University, the University of Louisville, and The Ohio State
University; she is a member of such organizations as the Top Ladies
of Distinction, Inc., and the National Council of Negro Women,
Inc., and she is currently the executive director of the Dallas
Regional chapter of the National Alliance of Black School
Educators; and
WHEREAS, Shirley Ison-Newsome has contributed to the
betterment of her community through her exemplary achievements as
an educator, and she has set an inspiring example of public service
to which all may aspire; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Shirley Ison-Newsome on her
receipt of the 2025 Living Legend Award from the Texas Alliance of
Black School Educators and extend to her sincere best wishes for the
future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Ms. Ison-Newsome as an expression of high regard by
the Texas House of Representatives.