TITLE: Congratulating Don Jefferies on his retirement as superintendent of the Greenville Independent School District.

SUMMARY: Congratulating Don Jefferies on his retirement as superintendent of the Greenville Independent School District.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Don Jefferies is retiring as superintendent of the Greenville Independent School District on March 1, 2017, drawing to a close an outstanding tenure with the district that has spanned more than a decade; and WHEREAS, After holding administrative roles in Scottsdale, Arizona, and with the West Orange Cove and Mineral Wells school districts, Mr. Jefferies joined GISD in 2006 as principal of Greenville High School; he became superintendent two years later, and since that time, he has worked tirelessly to address the needs of all students, particularly through programs that utilize product-oriented education; some of the initiatives implemented or expanded under his guidance include Project Graduation, Kid's Day, the Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps, elementary honors choir, and the summer art and robotics programs; he also led the development of the Greenville curriculum department, building a better support system for teachers throughout the district; and WHEREAS, Mr. Jefferies played a vital role in the development and implementation of a 2014 bond measure that allowed the district to make improvements to each of its schools, in addition to constructing a new Bowie Elementary campus and a state-of-the-art Career and Technology Education Center at Greenville High School; largely due to his efforts, GISD has earned 30 academic distinctions and 17 financial awards in the past several years, and Greenville High recently received the prestigious Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (T-STEM) designation; this accomplished educator has himself garnered numerous accolades over the course of an exemplary career, including selection in 2016 as the Region 8 Superintendent of the Year; and WHEREAS, In retirement, Mr. Jefferies is looking forward to spending more time with his wife of 43 years, Linda, as well as with their four children and five grandchildren; he also plans to write and further pursue his lifelong interest in history; and WHEREAS, Through his expertise, vision, and commitment to excellence, Don Jefferies has greatly benefited the students, faculty, and staff of Greenville ISD, and he may indeed reflect with pride on his many accomplishments as he embarks on the next exciting chapter of his life; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby congratulate Don Jefferies on his retirement as superintendent of the Greenville Independent School District and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mr. Jefferies as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Flynn Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 327 was adopted by the House on February 8,2017, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House