| 10 | 16 | | |
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| 11 | 17 | | |
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| 12 | 18 | | |
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| 13 | 19 | | WHEREAS, Michael J. Higginbotham, a biology teacher at Washington Irving Middle School in West Springfield, was named the Outstanding Secondary School New Teacher for Region 4 of Fairfax County Public Schools in 2024; and |
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| 14 | 20 | | |
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| 15 | 21 | | WHEREAS, Michael Higginbotham began his teaching career after many years of serving his country honorably as an officer in the United States Army and as a government contractor; and |
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| 16 | 22 | | |
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| 17 | 23 | | WHEREAS, Michael Higginbotham has drawn from his professional experiences to become a master lesson planner and to cultivate a safe and supportive learning environment in his classroom that encourages his students to embrace leadership roles and achieve their full potential; and |
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| 18 | 24 | | |
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| 19 | 25 | | WHEREAS, through his passion and enthusiasm for science and teaching, Michael Higginbotham has advanced Irving Middle School's mission to create a strong foundation academically, behaviorally, socially, and emotionally for its students, which fosters their learning and enables their success both in and out of the classroom; and |
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| 20 | 26 | | |
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| 21 | 27 | | WHEREAS, Michael Higginbotham employs diverse teaching methods and interactive lessons to spark his students' interest and heighten their engagement, and he has cleverly utilized chess as a way to motivate his students to develop strategic thinking and problem-solving skills; and |
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| 22 | 28 | | |
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| 23 | 29 | | WHEREAS, Michael Higginbotham has emphasized the importance of forging meaningful connections with his students, giving them the confidence to explore without fear of making mistakes and helping them as they mature into kind and considerate members of their communities; and |
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| 24 | 30 | | |
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| 25 | 31 | | WHEREAS, Michael Higginbotham gives generously of his time to assist and collaborate with his fellow faculty members, sharing expertise and resources to facilitate their efforts in the classroom; and |
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| 26 | 32 | | |
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| 27 | 33 | | WHEREAS, with abundant positivity and an unwavering commitment to the well-being of the students and families he serves, Michael Higginbotham exemplifies the ideals of the teaching profession and has earned the esteem and admiration of all Virginians; now, therefore, be it |
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| 28 | 34 | | |
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| 29 | 35 | | RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Michael J. Higginbotham hereby be commended for being named the 2024 Outstanding Secondary School New Teacher for Region 4 of Fairfax County Public Schools; and, be it |
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| 30 | 36 | | |
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| 31 | 37 | | RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Michael J. Higginbotham as an expression of the House of Delegates' high regard for his contributions to the education of young people in the Commonwealth. |
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