Bill Text: IL HR0149 | 2013-2014 | 98th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Honors Dr. Robert Willis for his work as the Interim Superintendent of Rockford Public Schools and congratulates him on his retirement.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2013-03-13 - Resolution Adopted [HR0149 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2013-HR0149-Introduced.html
| |||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | HOUSE RESOLUTION
| ||||||
2 | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of | ||||||
3 | Representatives wish to honor Dr. Robert Willis for his work as | ||||||
4 | the Interim Superintendent of Rockford Public Schools and | ||||||
5 | congratulate him on his retirement; and
| ||||||
6 | WHEREAS, Following his parents' dream of having their | ||||||
7 | children become the first in their families to attend college, | ||||||
8 | Robert Willis earned his bachelor's degree in physical | ||||||
9 | education from Springfield College in 1963; he subsequently | ||||||
10 | pursued his master's degree in school administration from Seton | ||||||
11 | Hall University and another master's degree in physical | ||||||
12 | education from the University of Minnesota; he later earned his | ||||||
13 | doctorate degree in educational administration from the | ||||||
14 | University of Minnesota; and
| ||||||
15 | WHEREAS, Dr. Robert Willis has had a long and distinguished | ||||||
16 | career in education; he began his career teaching physical | ||||||
17 | science and biology and coaching varsity football in the town | ||||||
18 | where his entire family was raised; he was subsequently hired | ||||||
19 | as the principal of an inner city elementary school in St. | ||||||
20 | Paul, Minnesota and later, led school districts in Minnesota | ||||||
21 | and South Dakota before becoming superintendent in Rock Island | ||||||
22 | and Des Plaines; and
|
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | WHEREAS, As superintendent, Dr. Robert Willis worked to | ||||||
2 | develop a clear vision for those school districts, improving | ||||||
3 | student performance, creating innovative year-round schools, | ||||||
4 | and pushing for the use of new technology to advance and | ||||||
5 | improve the learning experience for students and staff; and
| ||||||
6 | WHEREAS, Dr. Robert Willis expanded his educational reach | ||||||
7 | as a consultant and trainer, creating community visions for | ||||||
8 | several Illinois school districts, helping institutions build | ||||||
9 | parent partnerships to improve student learning in No Child | ||||||
10 | Left Behind schools, and teaching graduate level courses at | ||||||
11 | National-Louis University and Northern Illinois University; | ||||||
12 | and
| ||||||
13 | WHEREAS, Dr. Robert Willis led his Leadership Team in the | ||||||
14 | effort to formulate a vision for all children built on a | ||||||
15 | foundation of goals called Readiness Rocks, which include | ||||||
16 | College and Career Academies, Seven Periods to Success, | ||||||
17 | Preschool for All, 21st Century Learning Environments, and | ||||||
18 | College for All; and
| ||||||
19 | WHEREAS, During Dr. Robert Willis' tenure, preschool | ||||||
20 | enrollment increased by 600 students for a total enrollment of | ||||||
21 | 2,400 three and four year olds during the 2012 school year; and
| ||||||
22 | WHEREAS, Dr. Robert Willis led the effort for the |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | district's school board to reduce property taxes by $18 million | ||||||
2 | for the 2012 tax levy to provide property tax relief for | ||||||
3 | district taxpayers; and
| ||||||
4 | WHEREAS, Dr. Robert Willis was instrumental in the | ||||||
5 | community effort to pass the November 2012 general election | ||||||
6 | referendum, which gave the Rockford School District authority | ||||||
7 | to proceed with the largest and most comprehensive building | ||||||
8 | renovation and improvement plan in the district's history; the | ||||||
9 | first phase of the plan will result in $212 million worth of | ||||||
10 | school improvements over 5 years; and
| ||||||
11 | WHEREAS, Dr. Robert Willis has led his school community | ||||||
12 | with dignity, honor, and respect using a "servant leadership" | ||||||
13 | approach; and
| ||||||
14 | WHEREAS, In 2006, Dr. Robert Willis began serving as | ||||||
15 | Executive Director of the Rock River chapter of the American | ||||||
16 | Red Cross; under his leadership, the chapter grew to represent | ||||||
17 | more than 500,000 people in the Rock River Valley; and
| ||||||
18 | WHEREAS, Dr. Robert Willis was the recipient of the | ||||||
19 | Illinois State Board of Education's "Break the Mold" award, a | ||||||
20 | distinction that honors extraordinary innovation and | ||||||
21 | commitment to educational leadership; and
|
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | WHEREAS, Dr. Robert Willis and his loving wife of 48 years, | ||||||
2 | Judy, have 3 children and 6 grandchildren; and
| ||||||
3 | WHEREAS, Dr. Robert Willis serves as a model of hard work, | ||||||
4 | integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of | ||||||
5 | Illinois; therefore, be it
| ||||||
6 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE | ||||||
7 | NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | ||||||
8 | we honor Dr. Robert Willis for his work as the Interim | ||||||
9 | Superintendent of Rockford Public Schools, congratulate him on | ||||||
10 | his retirement, and wish him continued success and happiness in | ||||||
11 | the future; and be it further
| ||||||
12 | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | ||||||
13 | presented to Robert Willis as a symbol of our esteem and | ||||||
14 | respect.
|