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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Dr. Dawson Orr is stepping down as superintendent of |
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the Highland Park Independent School District on August 31, 2015, |
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having guided the district through a period of significant change |
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and growth; and |
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WHEREAS, A veteran school superintendent when he took the |
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helm of the Highland Park ISD in 2009, Dr. Orr has furthered the |
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district's reputation for strong academics while navigating |
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funding challenges and overseeing a 12 percent increase in |
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enrollment; in the 2013-2014 school year, Highland Park ISD and all |
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seven of its campuses received the accountability rating "Met |
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Standard" with distinctions, the highest level assigned by the |
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Texas Education Agency; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed administrator began his career in 1975 |
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in Columbus, Georgia, where he served successively as a social |
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studies teacher and as assistant principal at Baker High School; he |
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then relocated to Veracruz, Mexico, to serve as a teacher and as |
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elementary principal and subsequently as superintendent at the |
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American School of Laguna Verde; after returning to Texas, he spent |
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15 years with the Pampa ISD as assistant superintendent and as |
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superintendent before becoming superintendent of the Wichita Falls |
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ISD in 2003; and |
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WHEREAS, Highly respected in his field, Dr. Orr has served as |
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president of the Texas Association of School Administrators, as |
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chair of the association's legislative committee, and as president |
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of the Texas Leadership Center Board, as well as co-chair of the |
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Texas High Performance Schools Consortium; named Superintendent of |
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the Year in 2008 by Communities in Schools, he was selected as Key |
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Communicator of the Year by the Texas School Public Relations |
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Association in 2005; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to his extensive efforts in the arena of |
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public education, Dr. Orr has given generously of his time and |
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talents in behalf of his community as a member of the University |
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Park Library Advisory Committee, the Park Cities Rotary Club, and |
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the Education Impact Committee of the United Way of Metropolitan |
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Dallas; he will remain in the Park Cities to take on new |
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responsibilities at Southern Methodist University as a professor |
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and as chair of the Department of Educational Policy and Leadership |
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in the Simmons School of Education and Human Development; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Orr is a graduate of the University of Alabama, |
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where he earned his bachelor's degree in public administration and |
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social studies in 1975; he returned to the school to complete a |
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master's degree in administration and planning and an additional |
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master's degree as an educational specialist, and he went on to |
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attain his doctorate in the Cooperative Superintendency Program at |
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The University of Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout his distinguished tenure with the |
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Highland Park ISD, Dr. Dawson Orr has advanced the tradition of |
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excellence that is synonymous with that district, and Highland Park |
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students, faculty, and staff are indeed fortunate to have benefited |
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from his vision and leadership; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Dr. Dawson Orr for his exceptional |
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accomplishments as superintendent of the Highland Park Independent |
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School District and extend to him sincere best wishes as he embarks |
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on the next exciting chapter of his career; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Dr. Orr as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |