RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Jose Barrera will celebrate his retirement as the Principal of the Columbia Explorers Academy following 34 years of dedicated service to the Chicago Public Schools on Friday, June 19, 2015; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this event by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, A product of the Chicago Public Schools system, Jose Barrera began his academic career as a bilingual teacher at the Robert Burns and James Shields elementary schools; and
WHEREAS, Jose Barrera rose through the ranks to become Assistant Principal at Shields Elementary School and in 2000 became principal of the Davis/Shields School which became Columbia Explorers Academy; and
WHEREAS, A true gentleman, Jose Barrera has always exemplified the highest and most noble ideals of public service throughout his long and fruitful career; and
WHEREAS, While serving as the Principal at Columbia Explorers Academy, Jose Barrera twice received the Principal Leadership Award and the Superior Public Service Award for the City of Chicago from the Chicago Board of Education; and
WHEREAS, Jose Barrera has been married since 1976 to Evelyn Reyes, his high school sweetheart, and together, they have raised a close and loving family of three children; and
WHEREAS, Jose Barrera is a graduate of the School of the Art Institute and a talented artist who has exhibited his work at the Day of the Dead Exhibits at the National Museum of Mexican Art and other forums; and
WHEREAS, In his retirement, Jose Barrera will continue to be active in the educational field as well as in his community; and
WHEREAS, The hard work, sacrifice and dedication of Jose Barrera serve as an example to all; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this seventeenth day of June, 2015, do hereby congratulate Jose Barrera on his retirement and do hereby express our sincere appreciation for his dedication for more than 34 years to th...
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