HR0524 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0524 LRB094 12587 CSA 47287 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, John Everett, Principal of Simeon Career Academy in Chicago, is retiring June 30, 2005; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Everett grew up in Gary, Indiana, where he graduated from Roosevelt High School; he received a bachelor's degree in physical education from University of Illinois in Champaign, after which he received a master's degree, acquiring skills in counseling, cooperative vocational education, administration, and supervision; and

WHEREAS, His life has been very active, diverse, and rewarding; as a high school football coach at Hirsch High School, he won many championships and built his athletic program around character development, personal growth, self-esteem, perseverance, and teamwork; this is a legacy he has built and the throng of young men whom he has mentored possess these important traits; and

WHEREAS, Devoting most of his adult life to activities that center on young people, he has been an assistant principal in charge of discipline and student affairs, a security and police officer, and a physical education and athletic director; he has served on the Board of Controls and was Director of Drivers Education for many years; all of these roles enabled him to continue to work with young people, observing their needs, their talents, and their shortcomings; he has always devoted his time, his talents, and his energy to molding the character of the young people with whom he interacts daily; and

WHEREAS, Simeon Career Academy is a new and state-of-the-arts school; his principalship encapsulates and embodies all that he is; his fight to provide students with an adequate and fair opportunity for a quality education was fraught with many obstacles; however, characteristic of Mr. Everett, he led the fight from start to finish; today, the magnificent edifice that is the centerpiece of art and beauty and education stars as a monument of his dedication and devotion to young people and to education; and

WHEREAS, He did not stop at seeing the school erected; he continued to build on the quality of education, the instructional program, exposing the students to the best opportunities, and working to bring a wide variety of extra-curricular experiences into the students' daily school lives; and

WHEREAS, Over the years, Mr. Everett has received many awards for outstanding achievement, including Special Recognition for Student Significant Gains in ACT Scores, 1999-2000; Distinguished Educator Award, 2000; and the Continuous Academic Achievement Award, 1999; and

WHEREAS, He realized the importance of community service and involvement and found time to participate in many activities outside the realm of the school; he has been a Big Ten, USFL, and NFL official and program director of the Martin Luther King Boys and Girls Club, and a very productive member of the National Association of Black School Educators, the Chicago Association of Metropolitan Officials Association, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity; and

WHEREAS, Everything that Mr. Everett has done has impacted the lives of young people, those to whom the torch of leadership will be passed; his life stands as a monument to the students, the parents, and the teachers, exemplifying the fact that determination, hope, preparation, and character are the ingredients that make for excellence and success; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate John Everett on his outstanding contributions to the education of young people and wish him the very best in his retirement and future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to John Everett as an expression of our utmost admiration and esteem.