HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 930 Offered February 15, 2007 Commending JoWanda Rollins.  ---------- Patrons-- Peace, Orrock and Wittman ----------

WHEREAS, JoWanda Rollins, a third grade teacher at Bowling Green Elementary School of the Caroline County Public Schools, was honored by the school board and the community on January 8, 2007, as the county’s first National Board Certified Teacher; and

WHEREAS, National Board Certification is given by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) to advance the quality of teaching and learning by maintaining high and rigorous standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do, as well as providing a national voluntary system certifying teachers who meet these standards; and

WHEREAS, the NBPTS National Board Certification entitles the recipient to teach in all 50 states, and there are only 88 Virginia teachers who have achieved the certification; and

WHEREAS, JoWanda Rollins traces her Caroline and King William County roots “about all the way to Pocahontas,” and her family genealogy includes Mattaponi and Pamunkey along with African and English ancestors; and

WHEREAS, while still in grade school, JoWanda Rollins was inspired to become a teacher by her great-grandmother Maxine Hill and her grandmother Goldie Garlick, who both taught their pupils in a one-room schoolhouse; and

WHEREAS, in high school, JoWanda Rollins was the first female Junior ROTC battalion commander in Caroline County and the first state officer of the Future Homemakers of America; and

WHEREAS, JoWanda Rollins earned a bachelor's degree with honors from Hampton University, and after graduation served as an intern with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in Newport News in its Pre-Service Teaching Institute 2000; and

WHEREAS, JoWanda Rollins decided to return home to teach after earning a master's degree from Hampton University; she was compelled to give back to her community, because her first year of college was paid for by scholarships from Caroline County as a result of her outstanding volunteerism; and

WHEREAS, an exceptional teacher who always puts her students first, JoWanda Rollins was appointed third grade chair and honored as Teacher of the Year of Bowling Green Elementary School; and

WHEREAS, JoWanda Rollins is also a national presenter with the Center for Teacher Effectiveness; vice-president of the Divine Diva Social Club, which mentors young women in the Caroline County community; and is the praise dance coordinator at Saint Stephens Baptist Church in Central Point; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend JoWanda Rollins on her well-deserved National Board Certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to JoWanda Rollins as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for her many achievements and for her commitment to the students of Caroline County and the Commonwealth.