HJ5070: Commending Carolyn Williamson.
WHEREAS, Carolyn Williamson of Lee-Davis High School of the Hanover County Public Schools is recognized as a recipient of the 2005 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching; and
WHEREAS, the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching is the nation's highest honor for teachers of mathematics and science and honors highly qualified K-12 teachers in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, the United States territories, and the United States Department of Defense Schools for their contributions in the classroom and to their profession; and
WHEREAS, the distinguished awards, established in 1983 by an Act of Congress, are administered for the White House by the National Science Foundation (NSF), an independent federal agency that fosters research and education in all fields of science and engineering; and
WHEREAS, Carolyn Williamson grew up in Mechanicsville, attended Hanover County Public Schools, and is a graduate of Lee-Davis High School; and
WHEREAS, Carolyn Williamson earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics and history from the University of Richmond in 1978 and a master's degree in economics at Virginia Commonwealth University in 1985; and
WHEREAS, a shining example for educators across the Commonwealth, Carolyn Williamson was the only Virginian to receive the coveted Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching in 2005 and the first teacher to be honored in the Metropolitan Richmond area; and
WHEREAS, an exemplary educator with vast experience, Carolyn Williamson first taught at Lee-Davis High School from 1978 until 1983 and was chair of its math department; and
WHEREAS, Carolyn Williamson taught at the Governor's Center for Innovation and Technology in Varina in the classroom and in a nationwide classroom via satellite on public television; and
WHEREAS, in 1999 Carolyn Williamson returned to her alma mater to serve again as department chair, and for a time as Standards of Learning resource teacher, and later as Lee-Davis' Senior Teacher; and
WHEREAS, as a Presidential Award recipient, Carolyn Williamson received a $10,000 grant from the NSF and traveled to Washington, D.C., for gala celebrations and professional development activities; and
WHEREAS, Carolyn Williamson has a great passion and gift for teaching all math curricula, especially calculus, and she works very hard to inspire her students and to maintain a relaxed learning environment where they may mature into independent and creative thinkers, and realize every opportunity to fulfill their academic dreams; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend Carolyn Williamson for her well-deserved recognition as a recipient of the 2005 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Carolyn Williamson as an expression of the General Assembly’s gratitude for her outstanding service to the young people of Hanover County and the citizens of the Commonwealth.