HR0721LRB098 15202 GRL 50188 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are pleased to congratulate Melissa Leisner, 
4English and reading teacher at Prairie Knolls Middle School, 
5for winning the 2013 Milken National Educator Award from the 
6Milken Family Foundation; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, The Milken Award recognizes educators in the early 
8and middle phases of their careers for engaging and inspiring 
9teaching, community and school involvement, and educational 
10accomplishments; the award is called the Oscar of teaching and 
11was awarded to 40 outstanding educators nationally; Milken 
12Award recipients also receive $25,000; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, The award's namesake, Lowell Milken, created the 
14award program to honor educators over 25 years ago; and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, Melissa Leisner is a lifelong resident of Elgin; 
16she has been teaching for 15 years and has been at Prairie 
17Knolls Middle School in Community Unit School District 301 
18since it opened 7 years ago; and
  
 
19    WHEREAS, Melissa Leisner teaches 7th-grade English 
20language arts; 5 years ago, she started a program called YA 
21Cafe, originally called Young Adult Cafe, to introduce students 
 
 
HR0721- 2 -LRB098 15202 GRL 50188 r

1to great literature; and
  
 
2    WHEREAS, Melissa Leisner earned her undergraduate degree 
3at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb; she also earned 
4master's degrees at Aurora University and Judson University in 
5Elgin; therefore, be it
  
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
7NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
8we congratulate Melissa Leisner for winning the 2013 Milken 
9National Educator Award from the Milken Family Foundation; and 
10be it further
  
 
11    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
12presented to Melissa Leisner as an expression of our esteem and 
13respect.