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92_HR0150
LRB9208496RHrhA
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are please to recognize milestone events in
4 the lives of the citizens of the State of Illinois; and
5 WHEREAS, Bremen High School District 228 Superintendent,
6 Dr. Jim Riordan, is retiring this year after spending 31
7 years in District 228 and a total of 35 years in the
8 education field; and
9 WHEREAS, Dr. Riordan graduated with a Bachelor's Degree
10 from Loras College in 1966 and earned his Master's Degree
11 from DePaul University in 1969; he earned his Doctorate
12 Degree in Education from Loyola University in 1989; and
13 WHEREAS, Dr. Riordan began his career in 1966 as a social
14 studies teacher and football coach at Mendel Catholic High
15 School in Chicago; in 1970, he began his tenure at Bremen
16 High School as a social studies teacher and as a football,
17 basketball, and golf coach; in 1971, he was moved to
18 administration as Dean of Students at Tinley Park High
19 School, where he coached football and was a summer school
20 teacher; and
21 WHEREAS, Dr. Riordan returned to Bremen High School in
22 1972 for four years as the Assistant Principal; during his
23 time as Assistant Principal he worked to achieve positive
24 relationships between Bremen High School and the fire and
25 police departments; he also instituted the practice of "good
26 calls" to parents as encouragement for troubled students; and
27 WHEREAS, In 1976, Dr. Riordan became Associate Principal
28 at Hillcrest High School, where he worked for three years
29 developing a "Wall of Honor" for athletes, an "Honor Roll
30 Board", and a "Department Senior Award"; it was at this time
31 that he served as Activity Director on the Board of Control
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1 for the South Inter-Conference Association (SICA); and
2 WHEREAS, In 1979, Dr. Riordan became Associate Principal
3 at Oak Forest High School; during his seven year tenure
4 there, he was involved in many areas, including President of
5 SICA, and he participated in North Central evaluations at
6 Argo and Fremd High Schools; he was a member of the District
7 Curriculum Review Committee, the District Testing Committee,
8 the District Graduation Requirement Committee, and the
9 Southwest Special Education Cooperative Suspension and
10 Expulsion Committee; he also directed the summer school
11 program along with driver education and summer sports camps;
12 and
13 WHEREAS, In 1986, Dr. Riordan was appointed as Principal
14 at Hillcrest High School; although he served for only one
15 year, he accomplished many things, including the completion
16 of a needs assessment; he worked to increase parental
17 involvement by initiating a Freshman Parent Orientation Night
18 and individual Booster Clubs; he became a member of the
19 Chamber of Commerce and hosted community meetings for the
20 South Suburban Action Conference, the Hazel Crest Suburban
21 Human Relations Forum, and the "Catch the South Suburban
22 Wave" group; Dr. Riordan was a "visible" administrator by
23 visiting classes, banquets, and helping to establish a
24 program, called "Lunch with the Principal", for the students;
25 and
26 WHEREAS, In 1987, Dr. Riordan was appointed to the
27 position of Superintendent of Schools for District 228 by the
28 Board of Education; during his tenure he has worked to make
29 improvements in District 228 and was successful in removing
30 the District from the State Watch List, developing a public
31 relations program, reinstituting the District newsletter, and
32 establishing a Strategic Planning Program and a District
33 Education Foundation; in 1995, under Dr. Riordan's
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1 leadership, a referendum that will allow District 228 to
2 remain "financially set" for many years was passed; and
3 WHEREAS, Dr. Riordan has served as Director for the South
4 Suburban College Adult Education Center, Chairman of the
5 Alternative Education Committee, President of the Joint
6 Association of Administrative and Supervisory Personnel, and
7 the Director Of the Summer School program at Bremen High
8 School; in addition, he is on the Board of Directors of the
9 Illinois High School District Organization and travels to
10 Springfield frequently to fight for fair funding for suburban
11 high schools; and
12 WHEREAS, Dr. Riordan plans to continue and expand his
13 teaching at Governors State University in the Education
14 Administration Program, where he teaches courses such as
15 School Law and Community Relations; he hopes to publish
16 information about "what's good about public education"; and
17 WHEREAS, Dr. Riordan is looking forward to spending more
18 time with his family, who include his wife, Kathy, his
19 children, Michael, Dan, Meghan, and Brian, and his five
20 grandchildren, and his friends and working on his golf game;
21 he also plans to spend time utilizing his social studies
22 teacher background to visit museums and to travel extensively
23 throughout the Chicago neighborhoods; therefore, be it
24 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
25 NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
26 we congratulate Dr. Jim Riordan for his service and
27 dedication to District 228 for the past 31 years; we wish him
28 well in his retirement and any future endeavors that comes
29 his way; and be it further
30 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
31 presented to Dr. Jim Riordan as an expression of our esteem.