WHEREAS, Kelly Lazzara, superintendent of schools for the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, has admirably served her students and their families by working to make in-person instruction possible during the COVID-19 pandemic; and

WHEREAS, as superintendent of schools for the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, Kelly Lazzara oversees 23 Diocesan and six private Catholic schools attended by more than 8,400 students across the Central, Southwest, and Tidewater regions of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, prior to serving as superintendent of schools for the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, Kelly Lazzara was an elementary school principal at Star of the Sea Catholic School in Virginia Beach and associate superintendent of school operations with the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, giving her valuable on-the-ground experience leading to her promotion; and

WHEREAS, at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, Kelly Lazzara directed schools under the Catholic Diocese of Richmond to transition to virtual instruction in the interests of the health and safety of faculty, students, and administrators; and

WHEREAS, over the summer of 2020, Kelly Lazzara formed a Reopening Our Schools Committee to formulate a plan for getting children back into the classroom for the 2020-2021 school year; and

WHEREAS, by implementing procedures and policies such as daily health screenings, temperature checks, requirements that students and adults wear face coverings at all times, and the regular cleaning of school buildings, Kelly Lazzara and the Catholic Diocese of Richmond were able to safely bring faculty, students, and staff back into the classroom in the fall of 2020; and

WHEREAS, through hard work and a tireless commitment to the intellectual, emotional, and spiritual development of their students, Kelly Lazzara and her staff have contributed greatly to the success of thousands of children both in and out of the classroom; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Kelly Lazzara, superintendent of schools for the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, for successfully introducing in-person instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Kelly Lazzara as an expression of the General Assembly's profound admiration for her contributions to the Commonwealth.