S*0726 Resolution, By Lourie
 A SENATE RESOLUTION TO HONOR DR. SHIRLEY A. WATSON, PRINCIPAL OF L. W. CONDER
 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, FOR HER THIRTY-FIVE YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE AS AN
 EDUCATOR AND ADMINISTRATOR IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, TO CONGRATULATE HER ON
 THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT, AND TO WISH HER WELL IN HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

   05/23/13  Senate Introduced and adopted (Senate Journal-page 5)

TO HONOR DR. SHIRLEY A. WATSON, PRINCIPAL OF L. W. CONDER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, FOR HER THIRTY-FIVE YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE AS AN EDUCATOR AND ADMINISTRATOR IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, TO CONGRATULATE HER ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT, AND TO WISH HER WELL IN HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

Whereas, having served the students of South Carolina as an educator and administrator in the public school system for more than thirty-five years, Dr. Shirley A. Watson, principal of L. W. Conder Elementary School in Richland School District 2, will be leaving the post she has long served with distinction on June 30, 2013; and

Whereas, Dr. Watson has worked in Richland School District 2 for twenty years. Prior to her appointment as the principal of Conder Elementary, Dr. Watson served as an assistant administrator at Dent Middle School; and

Whereas, in addition to working in the Richland County public school system, she served the children in Greenwood School District 50 and Sumter School District 17 as a guidance counselor, teacher, and assistant principal; and

Whereas, Dr Watson earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Lander University, a master's degree in human resources from Clemson University, and a doctorate degree in educational administration from South Carolina State University; and

Whereas, Dr. Watson's educational philosophy can be encompassed by the phrase "Students Through Arts Reach Success", and this philosophy was illustrated throughout her tenure at Conder Elementary; and

Whereas, during her tenure as principal, Conder Elementary became an Arts Magnet School, was designated as a Magnet School of Distinction in 2013, was selected as the State School of Character during 2011-2012, and has been recognized by the South Carolina Arts Commission as an Arts Basic Curriculum School; and

Whereas, many students who attended Conder Elementary have been selected for district magnet programs at the middle school level as a result of the excellent arts programs instituted under Dr. Watson's leadership; and

Whereas, along with the numerous awards for the school, Dr. Watson has been personally recognized as the 2009-2010 Region XI Magnet School of America Principal of the Year and the 2011-2012 Columbia Area Reading Council's Administrator of the Year. She also has been selected to serve on the South Carolina Arts Commission board; and

Whereas, Dr. Shirley Watson now looks forward to spending time pursuing her many interests, including cooking, gardening, cross stitching, and traveling with her husband, Joe, to explore historical sites; and

Whereas, grateful for the immeasurable impact that Dr. Watson has had on the lives of countless students during her thirty-five years as an educator and administrator in the State of South Carolina, the Senate takes great pleasure in recognizing her service and wishing her well in her future endeavors. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, honor Dr. Shirley A. Watson, principal of L. W. Conder Elementary School, for her thirty-five years of dedicated service as an educator and administrator in the public school system, congratulate her on the occasion of her retirement, and wish her well in her future endeavors.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Dr. Shirley Watson.