WHEREAS, Pamela Brandon Croom of Hampton was elected as the first African American president of the Virginia Congress of Parents and Teachers Associations, a nonprofit advocacy association that supports students throughout the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Congress of Parents and Teachers Associations (Virginia PTA) was chartered in 1921 and has become one of the largest such organizations in the country, serving hundreds of thousands of members in more than 1,200 local organizations; and

WHEREAS, Pamela Croom, a business and workforce development manager for the City of Portsmouth, joined the parent teacher association at her daughter's school more than 30 years ago and has provided her valuable expertise to organizations at the local, regional, and state levels; and

WHEREAS, as president of Virginia PTA, Pamela Croom will work with teachers, administrators, students, family members, businesses, community leaders, and government officials to ensure that young people have the tools to achieve success in and out of the classroom; and

WHEREAS, Pamela Croom has promoted the vital role that parents play in their children's education and strives to keep families engaged in the learning process; and

WHEREAS, Pamela Croom plans to increase equity and diversity among the membership of Virginia PTA, as well as create new opportunities for leadership and professional development; and

WHEREAS, Pamela Croom will be formally installed as president at the Virginia PTA's annual meeting on March 20, 2021, which will commemorate the organization's 100th anniversary; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Pamela Brandon Croom hereby be commended on becoming the first African American president of the Virginia Congress of Parents and Teachers Associations; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Pamela Brandon Croom as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for her historic achievement.