S*0870 Resolution, By Massey
 A SENATE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR MS. DONNA B. STROM, ASSISTANT
 SUPERINTENDENT OF THE EDGEFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT UPON THE OCCASION OF
 HER RETIREMENT, TO EXTEND APPRECIATION FOR HER YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE, AND
 TO WISH HER CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

   06/04/15  Senate Introduced and adopted (Senate Journal-page 10)

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR MS. DONNA B. STROM, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF THE EDGEFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT UPON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT, TO EXTEND APPRECIATION FOR HER YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE, AND TO WISH HER CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

Whereas, the members of the Senate are pleased to learn that Ms. Donna B. Strom will enter a much-deserved retirement in June, 2015, after many years of dedicated service to the Edgefield County School District; and

Whereas, in preparation for her career in education, Ms. Strom received a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from the University of South Carolina Aiken in 1988. She also earned a Master of Education and Education Specialist degree in counselor education from the University of South Carolina, and completed some coursework towards a Ph.D. for special education administration from the University of South Carolina. Ms. Strom is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a National Board Certified Counselor; and

Whereas, Ms. Strom began her career as a teacher at Merriwether Elementary School in Edgefield County, where she taught grades 3-8 for almost six years. As a testament to her excellence in teaching, Ms. Strom received the Outstanding Young Teacher of the Year Award for two consecutive years; and

Whereas, in 1994, Ms. Strom continued at Merriwether Elementary School as a school counselor. In this position, she provided all classroom, small group, individual, and crisis counseling for the roughly eight hundred students at the school. She also served as president of the South Carolina Counseling Association for a year, and was the editor of The Palmetto Counselor for four years; and

Whereas, in June 2007, Ms. Strom accepted a position as the director of exceptional children/director of testing for the Edgefield County School District. In this position, she provided oversight for the approximately seven hundred students served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, and oversaw the administration of the many standardized tests given by the district; and

Whereas, prior to her service as assistant superintendent, Ms. Strom served as the director of student services for the South Carolina Virtual Charter School. She directed the Office of Exceptional Children and the Office of Guidance and Counseling Services and served as the testing coordinator; and

Whereas, since assuming her role as Assistant Superintendent of Edgefield County School District in 2012, Ms. Strom has been firmly dedicated to the success of students and the empowering of educators. She was instrumental in improving student test scores, increasing graduation rates, and improving employee morale, thereby fostering a stronger learning environment for the entire school district; and

Whereas, in addition to her work with the Edgefield County School District, Ms. Strom also served as an adjunct instructor at Augusta State University and College of Charleston. She is also a counselor at the Center for Care and Counseling, where she specializes in child and adolescent disorders, family therapy, and depressive disorders; and

Whereas, the members of the Senate are grateful for the legacy of consistent commitment and excellence Ms. Strom has bestowed on the students in Edgefield County and all of South Carolina and take great pleasure in wishing her well as she enters retirement. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the Senate, by this resolution, recognize and congratulate Ms. Donna B. Strom, Assistant Superintendent of the Edgefield County School District, upon the occasion of her retirement, extend appreciation for her years of distinguished service, and wish her continued success and happiness in all her future endeavors.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Ms. Donna B. Strom.