SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 421 Offered January 15, 2007 Commending Brenda F. Cowlbeck. ---------- Patron-- McDougle ----------

WHEREAS, Brenda F. Cowlbeck, dedicated Superintendent of the King William County Public Schools, will retire on March 1, 2007, after 37 years of outstanding service in public school systems in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Brenda Cowlbeck graduated summa cum laude from Longwood College and in 1970 began her career in education as a biology teacher in the Campbell County Public Schools, and then earned a master's degree in biology from the University of Virginia in 1972; and

WHEREAS, Brenda Cowlbeck taught middle school science in Lynchburg for 13 years and began her administrative career in the Lynchburg City Schools where, as Secondary Coordinator, she helped establish the Central Virginia Regional Governor's School in 1985; and

WHEREAS, in 1985, Brenda Cowlbeck began a 14-year career in the Bedford Public Schools, serving for four years as the assistant principal at Liberty High School; six years as a central office administrator, where she was Director of Middle and Secondary Education; and then for two years each as principal of Bedford Middle School and principal of Liberty High School; and

WHEREAS, in 1996, Brenda Cowlbeck earned a doctorate in educational administration from Virginia Tech, and in 1999, she moved to King William County as principal of King William High School; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Cowlbeck became Superintendent of the King William County Public Schools on January 1, 2001, and her tenure is marked by a number of significant accomplishments including all schools earning Virginia SOL accreditation and both Cool Spring Primary School and Acquinton Elementary School meeting federal Adequate Yearly Progress standards in 2006; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Cowlbeck has overseen important facilities improvements including the construction of Cool Spring Primary School, a major renovation of King William High School, and approval of plans for the reconstruction of the high school athletic complex; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Cowlbeck has served as Superintendent of the Regional Governor's School in Caroline County and led efforts to increase the number of King William students in attendance there; and

WHEREAS, in recognition of her hard work and achievements, Dr. Cowlbeck has twice been honored as Region III Superintendent of the Year by her fellow superintendents; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Brenda F. Cowlbeck for her longtime service to students of the Commonwealth; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Brenda F. Cowlbeck as an expression of the General Assembly's best wishes for a rewarding retirement.