RESOLUTION EXTENDING CONGRATULATIONS TO DR. MICHELLE R. WILLIS
WHEREAS, Dr. Michelle R. Willis, the principal of Frank L. Gillespie Elementary School, was named Elementary School Principal of the Year by the Illinois Principals Association; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Anthony Beale, Alderman of the 9th Ward, has apprised this august body of the significant recognition bestowed on Dr. Michelle R. Willis; and,
WHEREAS, The award recognizes elementary school principals who have demonstrated a positive impact on their students. Dr. Willis was chosen from a pool of nominees provided by twenty-one regions in the Illinois Principals Association; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Willis is a graduate of Whitney Young Magnet High School in Chicago, Illinois, and she holds Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin, a Master's Degree in the Teaching of Reading, a Master's Degree in Educational Administration from Chicago State University, and a Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from Loyola University* Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Willis began her career with Chicago Public Schools in 1993 as a classroom teacher and served as a reading specialist and assistant principal prior to becoming a principal; and
WHEREAS, Under Dr. Willis' leadership, Gillespie Elemental-)' School has moved from probationary status to receiving numerous grants and academic awards and has become one of the original ten schools with a technology focus, making it a Technology Magnet Cluster School; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Willis was a member of the second cohort of the Chicago Principals Fellowship and was selected to join the 2016-2017 Cahn Fellows Program for Distinguished Public School Principals at Teachers College, Columbia University. The fellowship seeks to strengthen public schools by recognizing outstanding principals and aspiring principals and developing their capacity as leaders; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Willis has been an active member of the Illinois Principals Association for nine years and has served as a principal mentor and coach through the organization. She is also active in the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), the International Literacy Association (ILA), and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP); and
WHEREAs, Within the community, Dr. Willis is active in the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority- Inc., The Links Inc., and the Monarch Awards Foundation; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Willis's mantra of never-ending, continuous improvement is embedded in all of her endeavors, and her achievement will be recognized at the Illinois Principals Association's annual Education Leaders Fall Conference in October; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor, and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this twenty-eighth day of June, 2017, do hereby extend our heartiest congratulations to Dr. Michelle R. Willis on this achievement.
ANTHONY BEALE Alderman, 9™ Ward
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to Dr. MicheUe R. Willis.