HJ811: Commending E. Wade Whitehead, Jr.
WHEREAS, E. Wade Whitehead, Jr., a fifth grade teacher at Crystal Spring Elementary School in Roanoke, accepted the high honor of being inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame in 2016; and
WHEREAS, a native of Bristol and a graduate of John S. Battle High School, Wade Whitehead received undergraduate degrees from The College of William & Mary and a master’s degree from the University of Virginia; and
WHEREAS, Wade Whitehead, a fourth-generation public school teacher currently in his 23rd year of teaching, has been a National Board Certified Teacher since 1999, is certified by the Commonwealth in gifted education and grades pre-kindergarten through eighth, and is endorsed as a school administrator; and
WHEREAS, Wade Whitehead was one of only five educators, and the only current school teacher, to be inducted into the 2016 class of the National Teachers Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, Wade Whitehead was recognized for his well-earned achievement by President Barack Obama during a White House ceremony in May 2016, and he was formally inducted into the National Teacher Hall of Fame in Kansas in June 2016; and
WHEREAS, Wade Whitehead was previously honored with the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award, Virginia Lottery Super Teacher Award, Roanoke City Public Schools Teacher of the Year Award, and USA Today All-USA Teacher Team Award, among others; and
WHEREAS, Wade Whitehead has made significant contributions to the field of education through the Teachers of Promise Foundation, a nonprofit he founded that seeks to identify, elevate, educate, and inspire the best prospective teacher training in colleges and universities across the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Wade Whitehead’s classroom is different from those of many other teachers; his students look forward to his class every day; he makes learning fun through games and other hands-on methods of instruction; and
WHEREAS, Wade Whitehead’s teaching philosophy is based on his belief that no significant learning is possible without a teacher first establishing a good relationship with his students and their families; and
WHEREAS, admired by his fellow teachers and the administrators at Crystal Spring Elementary School, Wade Whitehead’s instruction methods and national achievement embody the excellence that is displayed every day in classrooms throughout Roanoke City Public Schools; and
WHEREAS, Wade Whitehead’s successes in the classroom are made possible through the love and support of his wife, Robbie, and their children, Jack and Grace; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Crystal Spring Elementary School fifth grade teacher E. Wade Whitehead, Jr., on his induction into the National Teachers Hall of Fame in 2016; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to E. Wade Whitehead, Jr., as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for his noteworthy national recognition and continued dedication to educating the students of Roanoke City Public Schools and the Commonwealth.
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 811
WHEREAS, E. Wade Whitehead, Jr., a fifth grade teacher at Crystal Spring Elementary School in Roanoke, accepted the high honor of being inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame in 2016; and
WHEREAS, a native of Bristol and a graduate of John S. Battle High School, Wade Whitehead received undergraduate degrees from the College of William and Mary and a master’s degree from the University of Virginia; and
WHEREAS, Wade Whitehead, a fourth-generation public school teacher currently in his 23rd year of teaching, has been a National Board certified teacher since 1999, is certified by the Commonwealth in gifted education and grades pre-kindergarten through eighth, and is endorsed as a school administrator; and
WHEREAS, Wade Whitehead was one of only five educators, and the only current school teacher, to be inducted into the 2016 class of the National Teachers Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, Wade Whitehead was recognized for his well-earned achievement by President Barack Obama during a White House ceremony in May 2016, and he was formally inducted into the National Teacher Hall of Fame in Kansas in June 2016; and
WHEREAS, Wade Whitehead was previously honored with the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award, Virginia Lottery Super Teacher Award, Roanoke City Public Schools Teacher of the Year Award, and USA Today All-USA Teacher Team Award, among others; and
WHEREAS, Wade Whitehead has made significant contributions to the field of education in the Commonwealth through the Teachers of Promise Foundation, a nonprofit he founded that seeks to identify, elevate, educate, and inspire the best prospective teachers training in colleges and universities across the state; and
WHEREAS, Wade Whitehead’s classroom is different from those of many other teachers; his students look forward to his class every day, because he makes learning fun through games and other hands-on methods of instruction; and
WHEREAS, Wade Whitehead’s teaching philosophy is based on his belief that no significant learning is possible without a teacher first establishing a good relationship with his students and their families; and
WHEREAS, admired by his fellow teachers and the administrators at Crystal Spring Elementary School, Wade Whitehead’s instruction methods and national achievement embody the excellence that is displayed every day in classrooms throughout Roanoke City Public Schools; and
WHEREAS, Wade Whitehead’s successes in the classroom are made possible through the love and support of his wife, Robbie, and their children, Jack and Grace; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Crystal Spring Elementary School fifth grade teacher E. Wade Whitehead, Jr., on his induction into the National Teachers Hall of Fame in 2016; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to E. Wade Whitehead, Jr., as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for his noteworthy national recognition and continued dedication to educating the students of Roanoke City Public Schools and the Commonwealth.