TITLE: Congratulating JoAnn Gama on being named one of the 2015 Pillars of Success by The University of Texas--Pan American Alumni Association.

SUMMARY: Congratulating JoAnn Gama on being named one of the 2015 Pillars of Success by The University of Texas--Pan American Alumni Association.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, JoAnn Gama, cofounder and superintendent of IDEA Public Schools, has deservedly been named one of the 2015 Pillars of Success by The University of Texas--Pan American Alumni Association; and WHEREAS, The University of Texas--Pan American Alumni Association honors outstanding graduates as Pillars of Success, highlighting their motivational stories and achievements as positive examples for current and future students; recipients of the award come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, but they have all shown dedication, integrity, and a commitment to excellence in their specialized professions and in their communities; and WHEREAS, A Houston native, JoAnn Gama graduated from Sam Houston High School in 1993 and attended Boston University on a full scholarship; she earned a master's degree in educational administration from The University of Texas--Pan American in 2003; as part of the Teach for America program, she moved to Donna in 1997 and taught fourth and fifth grade English as a Second Language classes; after her first year, she was nominated by her peers as Teacher of the Year; in 1998, she joined with another Teach for America member to found the IDEA Academy as part of the Donna Independent School District; and WHEREAS, Following the academy's success with the district, Ms. Gama applied for a state charter, and in August 2000, the IDEA Academy Charter School opened with 150 students enrolled in fourth through eighth grades; since then, Ms. Gama has been instrumental in developing the IDEA Public School system, which currently educates more than 15,000 students in 30 schools across the Rio Grande Valley and in San Antonio and Austin; several of the schools have garnered significant honors for their students' success, and in 2009, IDEA Public Schools became the first charter to receive the H-E-B Excellence in Education Award as the best school system in Texas; in 2013, IDEA Donna, IDEA Quest, and IDEA Frontier were ranked in the top one percent of all public high schools in the nation; and WHEREAS, Ms. Gama was the winner of the 2009 Peter Jennings Award for Civic Leadership, and she was appointed to President Barack Obama's White House Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics in 2010; and WHEREAS, Texas is fortunate to have passionate and engaged educators like JoAnn Gama, and her contributions to the greater good will resonate far into the future; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby congratulate JoAnn Gama on being named one of the 2015 Pillars of Success by The University of Texas--Pan American Alumni Association and extend to her sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Ms. Gama as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Canales Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 587 was adopted by the House on February 26, 2015, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House