HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 878 Offered February 8, 2007 Commending Daphne R. Keiser.  ---------- Patron-- Toscano ----------

WHEREAS, Daphne R. Keiser, a principal at Burnley-Moran Elementary School of the Charlottesville City Public Schools, was honored with the 2006 Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award on October 12, 2006; and

WHEREAS, the Milken Family Foundation annually recognizes excellence in education and has provided more than $54 million to 2,200 educators across the country since its founding in 1987; the award includes a $25,000 prize that winners may use in any way they wish; and

WHEREAS, an outstanding elementary school principal, Daphne Keiser was one of two Virginia educators to be honored and one of 100 distinguished recipients of the coveted Milken Award nationwide; and

WHEREAS, Daphne Keiser earned a bachelor’s degree from Virginia State University, a master’s degree from University of Virginia (UVA), and is currently completing her doctorate in administration and supervision with a policy studies minor from UVA; and

WHEREAS, before becoming principal in 2005, Daphne Keiser was a classroom teacher, an interim principal, and an assistant principal at Walker Upper Elementary School, where she served as coordinator of the Extended Day Generates Excellence (EDGE) program and sponsor of the Walker Academy, a program for fifth-grade and sixth-grade African-American boys; and

WHEREAS, Daphne Keiser was recognized by the Milken Family Foundation for her commitment to excellence in education, her many efforts to utilize best learning practices and research to achieve student learning goals and objectives, and her ability to target instruction to meet the needs of students; and

WHEREAS, always looking for new ways to motivate students to learn and progress academically, Daphne Keiser recently implemented an instructional intervention program to enhance learning in the fourth grade, a year in which student achievement often declines, realizing a gain of nine percentage points in students' postintervention assessment scores; and

WHEREAS, a visionary leader who always puts her students first, Daphne Keiser is a dedicated principal and an exemplary role model for educators across Virginia and the nation; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend and congratulate Daphne R. Keiser on her well-deserved national recognition as a 2006 Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award recipient; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Daphne R. Keiser as an expression of the General Assembly's appreciation for her many accomplishments and her dedication to the students of Burnley-Moran Elementary School and the citizens of the City of Charlottesville.