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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to congratulate Dr. Rhonda Towner on the
4occasion of her retirement, after 40 years of working in the
5field of education; and
6 WHEREAS, Dr. Towner received her Bachelor of Arts and
7Master of Science in Education from Chicago State University;
8she began her career in education in February of 1979 as a high
9school music teacher at Simeon High School in Chicago; during
10her time as a Chicago public school teacher, she also taught
11grades pre-k and 3rd; she later taught 1st grade at a Chicago
12parochial school for five years; and
13 WHEREAS, Dr. Towner's administrative career began in 1986
14when she became the first African-American lay principal of a
15pre-k through eighth grade parochial school in the South Shore
16neighborhood of Chicago; in 1993, her career brought her back
17to the public school system when she became the principal of
18the Early Learning Center in Calumet Park; she was instrumental
19in the design and building of the new primary school in the
20district, which was renamed Burr Oak Academy; during her tenure
21in Calumet Park, she served as a bilingual coordinator, a
22fiscal manager of the Title I program, a grant writer, and as
23an assessment coordinator; and

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1 WHEREAS, In 2000, Dr. Towner received her Doctorate in
2Educational Administration and Supervision from Loyola
3University in Chicago; she then became the principal of Maya
4Angelou Elementary School in Harvey; and
5 WHEREAS, Dr. Towner joined South Holland District 151 in
62002 as the principal of Eisenhower Elementary School; in 2009,
7she received her Chief School Business Official certification
8from Governors State University; and
9 WHEREAS, Dr. Towner has been married for 36 years to
10Dennis; they have two daughters and three granddaughters; she
11intends to continue to work in some capacity in education,
12however she plans to spend her retirement traveling, pursuing
13her love for music, completing her bucket list items, spending
14more time with family and friends, and cleaning her house;
15therefore, be it
16 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
17HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
18we congratulate Dr. Rhonda Towner on her retirement after 40
19years of working in the field of education, and we wish her the
20best in all her future endeavors; and be it further
21 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be

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1presented to Dr. Towner as a symbol of our respect and esteem.