Session 2000
Effective: 1-18-2000
� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � SENATE RESOLUTION No. 1804 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � A Resolution congratulating and commending the 2000 Kansas Teacher of the Year � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � and the 2000 Kansas Teacher of the Year finalists.
�WHEREAS,� The teachers in our public schools have the primary responsibility of providing
our nation with graduates able to succeed in comtemporary society. In Kansas we further this
goal by recognizing some of our exemplary teachers; and

� � � WHEREAS,� The 2000 Awards Banquet for the 2000 Kansas Teacher of the Year was held at
Wichita on November 13, 1999. The Teacher of the Year program, which has state and national
competitions, is sponsored by the Council of Chief State Officers and Scholastic, Inc. The Kansas
program is sponsored by the Kansas State Department of Education, which appointed a 45-
member state selection panel composed of business representatives, legislators, education offi-
cials, parents and students; and

� � � WHEREAS,� Susan M. Rippe, a science teacher at Wichita Northwest High School, was named
the Kansas Teacher of the Year 2000. Rippe was named Teacher of the Year from a field of eight
finalists. Throughout the coming year, all of the finalists will work as a team to advocate for
education and teaching. Selected from a pool of nearly 100 nominations, the finalists this year
include: Julie Jo Bervert, a language arts teacher at Seaman High School in Topeka; Nancy Jo
Bradley, a fifth-grade teacher at Amanda Arnold Elementary School in Manhattan; Crystal Kaye
Cross, an English teacher at Great Bend Senior High School; Tammy R. Lalicker, a third-grade
communications teacher at Edith Scheuerman Elementary School in Garden City; Beverly
McWilliams, a vocal music teacher at Towanda Elementary School; Gayle J. Newman, a reading
teacher at Indian Valley Elementary School in Overland Park; and Karen Diane Wall, an Amer-
ican history teacher at DeSoto High School; and

� � � WHEREAS,� Another announcement made during the Kansas Teacher of the Year celebration
was the establishment of The Hubbard Foundation Kansas Teacher of the Year Ambassadorship.
Awarded for the first time to the Kansas Teacher of the Year 2000, the ambassadorship provides
funds to the Teacher of the Year's school district to hire a partner teacher to provide continuity
in the classroom while the Teacher of the Year participates in activities supporting the mission
of the Teacher of the Year program. Funds are also provided for travel and other necessary
expenses incurred by the Kansas Teacher of the Year. The ambassadorship is funded through
contributions from several businesses and organizations: Now, therefore,

� � � Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Kansas:�That we express our appreciation for the
dedication all teachers have in educating our children and congratulate these teachers upon their
selection as the 2000 Kansas Teacher of the Year and as 2000 Kansas Teacher of the Year finalists;
and

� � � Be it further resolved:�That the Secretary of the Senate be directed to provide enrolled copies
of this resolution as follows: two copies to each of the eight teachers, one copy each to Andy
Tompkins, Commissioner of Education, Kansas Department of Education, Robert Gast, Team
Leader for Recognition Program, Kansas Department of Education, and to Harold Voth, Chair-
person of the State Board of Education.

Senate Resolution No. 1804 was sponsored by Senators Bleeker, Oleen, Barone, Becker, Biggs,
Bond, Brownlee, Clark, Corbin, Donovan, Downey, Emert, Feleciano, Gilstrap, Gooch, Good-
win, Hardenburger, Harrington, Hensley, Huelskamp, Jones, Jordan, Kerr, Langworthy,
Lawrence, Lee, Morris, Petty, Praeger, Pugh, Ranson, Salisbury, Salmans, Steffes, Steineger,
Stephens, Tyson, Umbarger, Vidricksen and Vratil