HR1317 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1317 LRB095 21409 GRL 50775 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Brooke Tippett Thompson on the occasion of winning a Golden Apple Award; and

WHEREAS, Brooke Tippett Thompson is a graduate of Houston's High School for the Performing and Visual Arts; as an undergraduate at Ohio Wesleyan University, she was a vocal performance major with an emphasis in opera and art song; she attended Northeastern Illinois University where her private voice teacher, Ronald Combs, was a professor; during her graduate studies, her graduate assistantship was the music department tutor for all non-music majors who were required to take a general music course; this assistantship opened up a whole other side of music for her as she realized that she had a talent for communicating her love of music to others; after staying for an extra year to become certified to teach, she began working at Peirce School, where she remained ever since; and

WHEREAS, In 2002, Brooke Tippett Thompson achieved National Board Certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and now mentors other teacher-candidates through the process; she also works with the Educational Testing Service and National Board for Professional Teaching Standards as a trainer in the assessment process during the summer; and

WHEREAS, Brooke Tippett Thompson has served as a kindergarten through 8th grade general music and choir teacher at Helen C. Peirce School of International Studies since 1998; prior to becoming a teacher, she worked at the North Lakeside Cultural Center and in development for the People's Music School; and

WHEREAS, Brooke Tippett Thompson was nominated for the Golden Apple Award by dozens of students, parents, and fellow teachers; her classes were observed by numerous officials, who eventually selected her as one of the 10 best Chicago teachers out of 850; and

WHEREAS, As a result of her deep interest in brain development and how music affects and enhances learning, Brooke Tippett Thompson brought a program called Education Through Music (ETM) to Chicago; now completing its 4th year, ETM is being used in over 50 classrooms (kindergarten through 8th) across the Chicago Public Schools and surrounding suburban areas to stabilize "at risk" students; and

WHEREAS, Brooke Tippett Thompson has served as the music director at Edgewater Presbyterian Church since 1995; and

WHEREAS, As a winner of the Golden Apple Award, Brooke Tippett Thompson will receive a tuition-free spring-term sabbatical at Northwestern University; a personal computer from IBM; and $3,000, among other prizes; and

WHEREAS, Brooke Tippett Thompson serves as a model of hard work, integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Brooke Tippett Thompson on the occasion of winning a Golden Apple Award and wish her continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Brooke Tippett Thompson as a symbol of our esteem and respect.