Bill Text: IL HR0831 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Congratulates MaryBeth and Jim Westin on their respective retirements after more than 60 combined years of teaching in the Rockford Region. Thanks them for their commitment to education. Wishes them all the best in their future endeavors.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2024-05-24 - Resolution Adopted [HR0831 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HR0831-Introduced.html

---

HR0831 LRB103 40937 ECR 73966 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives wish to congratulate MaryBeth and Jim Westin
on the occasion of their respective retirements after a
combined six decades of teaching in the Rockford Region; and
WHEREAS, MaryBeth Westin earned a Bachelor of Science in
Special Education from Illinois State University in 1991; she
obtained a Master of Arts in Education from St. Xavier
University in 1994; she later earned a Library Information
Specialist endorsement from Northern Illinois University in
2011; and
WHEREAS, MaryBeth Westin has always striven to participate
and advocate for students; she has made a tremendous impact on
the lives of her pupils while embracing the challenges and
responsibilities of educating special education students with
unwavering commitment, patience, and empathy, ensuring that
each student received the personalized support and
accommodations necessary to thrive academically, socially, and
emotionally; her work ethic is reflective of her guiding
principle that every student possesses the ability to learn,
even if learning cannot traditionally manifest itself; and
WHEREAS, MaryBeth Westin has worked tirelessly to break

HR0831 - 2 - LRB103 40937 ECR 73966 r
down barriers and overcome obstacles that special education
students often face, advocating for their rights, access to
resources, and opportunities for full participation in our
academic system; and
WHEREAS, Marybeth Westin has served as a member of
multiple union bargaining teams, including during the height
of the COVID-19 pandemic when she leveraged her expertise,
insight, and experience in negotiating the contracts of over
1,500 teachers in the State's third-largest district, proving
her relentless dedication to ensuring that the terms and
conditions of employment were fair, equitable, and reflective
of the needs and priorities of educators, students, and the
broader school community; and
WHEREAS, In her years as a librarian, MaryBeth Westin has
initiated book clubs to help students foster a love for
reading, critical thinking, and intellectual curiosity,
including a parent-student book club that provided
opportunities for students and parents to engage in meaningful
discussions, share diverse perspectives, and connect and bond
over education; and
WHEREAS, MaryBeth Westin has exemplified a deep commitment
to the holistic development of her students, going above and
beyond to support their involvement in extracurricular

HR0831 - 3 - LRB103 40937 ECR 73966 r
activities; she has served as a steadfast champion and mentor
for students, encouraging them to explore their passions,
interests, and talents beyond the confines of the traditional
classroom setting; and
WHEREAS, Jim Westin received a Bachelor of Science in
Education from Illinois State University in 1995; he later
obtained a Master of Education from Northern Illinois
University in 2001; and
WHEREAS, Jim Westin began his career as a special
education teacher at Abraham Lincoln Middle School, where he
worked for 20 years, serving and educating children at the
same school he attended as a student; and
WHEREAS, For the last years of his career, Jim Westin has
demonstrated an exceptional commitment to serving
nontraditional students during his tenure at the Winnebago
County Juvenile Detention Center, displaying unwavering
dedication in his educational endeavors and embracing head-on
the unique challenges and opportunities of teaching in a
juvenile detention center; further, he has recognized the
importance of education as a pathway to rehabilitation,
empowerment, and hope for incarcerated youth; and
WHEREAS, Jim Westin has gone above and beyond to create a

HR0831 - 4 - LRB103 40937 ECR 73966 r
supportive and open learning environment within the confines
of the detention center, providing personalized attention,
mentorship, and encouragement to students who often previously
faced significant academic, social, and emotional barriers;
and
WHEREAS, Jim Westin has demonstrated remarkable
creativity, adaptability, and resourcefulness in developing
and implementing educational programs tailored to meet the
diverse needs and backgrounds of incarcerated youth; he has
also exhibited extraordinary empathy, patience, and
understanding in working with students grappling with trauma,
adversity, and systemic challenges, recognizing the inherent
dignity and potential of every individual under his care; and
WHEREAS, At the end of the 2023-2024 school year, MaryBeth
and Jim Westin will conclude their respective careers as
educators of Rockford's youth after more than 60 combined
years of service to the community they have both called home
all their lives; and
WHEREAS, MaryBeth and Jim Westin's tireless efforts,
passion for teaching, and commitment to excellence have set a
standard of professionalism and excellence that will continue
to inspire future educators for years to come, and the impact
of their work extends far beyond the walls of the classroom,

HR0831 - 5 - LRB103 40937 ECR 73966 r
shaping the minds and futures of generations of students and
contributing to the fabric of our community in ways that are
beyond measure; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we congratulate MaryBeth and Jim Westin on their respective
retirements after more than 60 combined years of teaching in
the Rockford Region, thank them for their commitment to
education, and wish them all the best in their future
endeavors; and be it further