H*4204 Concurrent Resolution, By Scott, Huggins, Agnew, Allen, Altman, Anderson, 
Anthony, Bailey, Bales, Ballentine, Barfield, Battle, Bingham, Bowers, Brady, 
Branham, Breeland, G. Brown, J. Brown, R. Brown, Cato, Ceips, Chalk, Chellis, 
Clark, Clemmons, Clyburn, Coates, Cobb-Hunter, Coleman, Cooper, Cotty, Dantzler, 
Davenport, Delleney, Duncan, Edge, Emory, Frye, Funderburk, Govan, Hagood, 
Haley, Hamilton, Hardwick, Harrell, Harrison, Harvin, Haskins, Hayes, 
Herbkersman, J. Hines, M. Hines, Hinson, Hiott, Hosey, Howard, Jefferson, 
Jennings, Kennedy, Kirsh, Leach, Lee, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Loftis, Lucas, 
Mack, Mahaffey, Martin, McCraw, McGee, McLeod, Merrill, Miller, Moody-Lawrence, 
J.H. Neal, J.M. Neal, Neilson, Norman, Ott, Owens, Parks, Perry, Phillips, 
Pinson, E.H. Pitts, M.A. Pitts, Rhoad, Rice, Rivers, Rutherford, Sandifer, 
Scarborough, Simrill, Sinclair, Skelton, D.C. Smith, F.N. Smith, G.M. Smith, 
G.R. Smith, J.E. Smith, J.R. Smith, W.D. Smith, Stewart, Talley, Taylor, 
Thompson, Toole, Townsend, Tripp, Umphlett, Vaughn, Vick, Viers, Walker, Weeks, 
Whipper, White, Whitmire, Wilkins, Witherspoon and Young
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND ONE OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S MOST
 OUTSTANDING EDUCATORS, MR. GERALD WITT, FOR AN EXEMPLARY CAREER AS A TEACHER
 AND PRINCIPAL UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AS PRINCIPAL OF IRMO HIGH
 SCHOOL AND TO EXTEND TO HIM BEST WISHES IN ALL OF HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

   05/25/05  House  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ-331
   05/26/05  Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ-278

TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND ONE OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S MOST OUTSTANDING EDUCATORS, MR. GERALD WITT, FOR AN EXEMPLARY CAREER AS A TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AS PRINCIPAL OF IRMO HIGH SCHOOL AND TO EXTEND TO HIM BEST WISHES IN ALL OF HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

Whereas, Mr. Gerald Witt began his educational career in 1975 as a teacher and coach at Blackville High School, and in 1976 he began the first of his two terms of service at Irmo High School, as a teacher and a coach; and

Whereas, after serving at Irmo High School in various positions, including assistant principal from 1980 through 1987, Mr. Witt became Supervisor of Educational Services at School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties; and

Whereas, following his tenure in district administration, Mr. Witt became principal at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School, subsequently returning to Irmo High School as principal, where he has served with dedication and distinction since 1995; and

Whereas, Mr. Witt earned both his Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and his Master's degree in Education at the University of South Carolina, where he was tapped as a Phi Delta Kappan; and

Whereas, as a member of the South Carolina School Administrators, the South Carolina Secondary School Principal's Association, and the National Association of Secondary School Principals, Mr. Witt has received commendation and recognition for his valuable contributions and expertise, having made presentations to national and local conferences and having been appointed to numerous committees on the state and national level, including serving as a consultant for the United States Department of Education, Drug Free Schools Recognition Program Site Visitor; and

Whereas, Mr. Witt has been an inspirational leader and an outstanding administrator, bringing much acclaim and success to Irmo High School, which was a National Blue Ribbon School twice during his tenure; he achieved many other accomplishments while principal, including raising Scholastic Aptitude Test scores by thirty points, being the first school in the district to establish an education foundation, establishing an International Baccalaureate Programme, and being recognized as a State School Incentive winner 1994-2005; and

Whereas, Mr. Witt, has been not only an inspiration to his faculty and staff, but he also has created a school environment that encourages and motivates students and faculty, alike, to strive for excellence, and as a result, Irmo High School has received great state and national recognition; and

Whereas, during Mr. Witt's tenure, Irmo has been the Class 5-A State Marching Band Champions for nine consecutive years; the Academic Quiz Team has been two-time National Champions; the Science Team has been State Champions six years running; and Irmo has won twenty-eight state athletic championships, having tied the state record of winning seven state championships in one year; and

Whereas, Mr. Witt has also been an outstanding community leader, sharing his time and talents with many organizations, among them, the United Way of the Midlands, St. Andrews Rotary Club, and the Irmo Chamber of Commerce; he is also a faithful member of Ebenezer Baptist Church, where he serves on the Board of Deacons and as a Sunday school teacher; and

Whereas, the General Assembly is pleased to have the opportunity to recognize such a truly fine South Carolinian as Mr. Gerald Witt. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize and commend one of South Carolina's most outstanding educators, Mr. Gerald Witt, for an exemplary career as a teacher and principal upon the occasion of his retirement as Principal of Irmo High School and extend to him best wishes in all of his future endeavors.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be provided to Mr. Gerald Witt.