September 2020 Heroes for Children Resolution

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS volunteers provide invaluable support to our Texas public schools through selfless giving of  their time, talent, and financial resources; and

WHEREAS the State Board of Education has honored outstanding school volunteers with the Heroes for Children award since 1994; and

WHEREAS Ofelia Murillo is the District Elementary Volunteer of the Year for Socorro Independent School District (ISD) where over the past seven years, she clocked in more than 7000 hours of support mostly at Hueco Elementary School; and

WHEREAS Isabel Ortiz is a model volunteer and an inspiration to the La Joya ISD community serving on parent advisory committees and recognized by the district school board for her hard work and dedication; and

WHEREAS Karla Vallejan serves as the president of the La Joya ISD School Health Advisory Council and a parent leader who goes above and beyond to help others with the Neighbors in Action volunteer group; and

WHEREAS Irma Cuatianquiz is an honorary life member of the North Shore Elementary PTA in Galena Park ISD where she has continued to volunteer long after her children had moved on to high school; and

WHEREAS Michael Burke is a visionary leader who believes giving back to the community means action and who co-founded the PK-12 Education Forum and helped launch Early Matters San Antonio; and

WHEREAS Robert Westheimer sees the need to mentor students in Spring Branch ISD and encourage them to divert a broken path to one that reflects their God-given talents and who founded Newspring; and

WHEREAS James “Jim” Martin is the epitome of a true servant leader in Brazosport ISD where he serves as president and founder of the ALL-N-4BISD which promoted two successful bond campaigns; and  

WHEREAS Charles Anderson had a vision to build bridges of literacy, health, mentoring, and friendship with the children of Clear Lake City Elementary when he created the Clear Lake Buddies initiative; and

WHEREAS Jessica Rich is an embodiment of passion and creativity in the Pleasant Grove ISD community as an all-around volunteer and board member of the PG Connection which gives directly back to schools; and

WHEREAS Chad Richter uses his paramedic background to attend to emergencies in Thrall ISD, but will often be found mentoring, landscaping, moving furniture, and building playground equipment; and

WHEREAS Van Houser has a long history of impacting Weatherford ISD schools, where he served twice as president of the Education Foundation with the motto, “Help teachers take kids from good to great,” and

WHEREAS Kelley Thomas is a dedicated and exemplary leader as president of the Council of PTA in Plano ISD who supports parent engagement as the key to a strong school system and community; and

WHEREAS Marti Mueller is a faithful mentor and volunteer for the Academy 4 Program which helps develop foundational leadership skills among fourth graders in Fort Worth ISD; and

WHEREAS Suzanne Danhof has set her goals higher and wider, and as Council of PTA president; the increase of membership has meant more services and support for Denton ISD students and families; and

WHEREAS Christine Foreman has dedicated herself to over 15 years of service in Midland ISD, serving as president of the Education Foundation that helped grant more than $1,000,000 back to teachers and students and tirelessly co-chairing a rigorous bond campaign; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the State Board of Education recognizes these outstanding individuals as Heroes for Children and thanks them for their combined 190 years of volunteer activity in their local public schools.

WITNESS our signatures this eleventh day of September, two thousand twenty in Austin, Texas.

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Keven Ellis, Chair

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Georgina Pérez, Secretary