TITLE: Commending Margaret Taylor Smith for her efforts in behalf of Texans with learning disabilities.

SUMMARY: Commending Margaret Taylor Smith for her efforts in behalf of Texans with learning disabilities.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Margaret Taylor Smith has made a meaningful difference in the lives of countless Texans with dyslexia and other learning disabilities during her outstanding career as an educator, author, speaker, and advocate; and WHEREAS, Ms. Smith graduated from Baylor University and went on to receive a master's degree in education from Texas A&M University-Commerce; she taught in public schools for 12 years before earning a dyslexia therapist certification and beginning to teach special education classes in Dallas; troubled by the lack of resources and curriculum guidelines for teachers of students with learning disabilities, she worked on developing her own materials, and she eventually shared this project with the world when she released Multisensory Teaching Approach for Reading, Spelling, and Handwriting in 1987 through her company, MTS Publications; and WHEREAS, A respected authority on learning disabilities, Ms. Smith has written a number of other publications on the subject, trained thousands of dyslexia therapists and teachers in Texas and beyond, and advocated for state laws that provide vital services to students with dyslexia; she also helped to develop the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for English Language Arts curriculum through her involvement with the Texas Education Agency; and WHEREAS, Ms. Smith has held leadership roles with the International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council and the Academic Language Therapy Association Centers Council, and she is a valued member of the International Dyslexia Association; furthermore, she has served as associate director of the Dean Teacher Training Center and taught at A&M-Commerce and Southern Methodist University; and WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan has received numerous accolades over the years, including the Aylett R. Cox Educator Award from the Academic Language Therapy Association and the Distinguished Alumni Award from Forney High School, and Smith Elementary School in Forney was named in her honor; and WHEREAS, Margaret Smith has worked tirelessly to provide young people with dyslexia and other learning disabilities with a strong educational foundation on which to build, and she is indeed deserving of recognition for her accomplishments in this crucial endeavor; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas Legislature hereby commend Margaret Taylor Smith for her efforts in behalf of Texans with learning disabilities and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued success with her important work; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Ms. Smith as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Bell of Kaufman Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1549 was adopted by the House on May 17, 2019, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House