[Page S5195]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

 SENATE RESOLUTION 247--RECOGNIZING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND EFFORTS OF 
     JOHN I. WILSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL EDUCATION 
 ASSOCIATION, FOR DEDICATING HIS CAREER TO EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS AND 
                 STUDENTS, AND HONORING HIS RETIREMENT

  Mrs. HAGAN submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 247

       Whereas John I. Wilson is a native of Burlington, North 
     Carolina;
       Whereas John I. Wilson began his career as an activist for 
     the National Education Association while attending Western 
     Carolina University as the president of the National 
     Education Association student chapter;
       Whereas John I. Wilson taught special needs students as a 
     middle school teacher;
       Whereas John I. Wilson served as the executive director of 
     the North Carolina Association of Educators;
       Whereas John I. Wilson developed a new support system for 
     teachers pursuing certification by the National Board for 
     Professional Teaching Standards in North Carolina, and as a 
     result, North Carolina has more National Board-certified 
     teachers and candidates than any other State;
       Whereas John I. Wilson led a successful campaign that 
     increased the average salary of teachers in North Carolina, 
     as compared to other States, from 43rd to 23rd in the United 
     States;
       Whereas, after serving on numerous boards throughout his 
     career, John I. Wilson became the executive director of the 
     National Education Association, the largest union in the 
     United States, in 2000;
       Whereas John I. Wilson is an advocate of a minimum salary 
     of $40,000 for every teacher and a living wage for education 
     support professionals;
       Whereas John I. Wilson launched a National Education 
     Association initiative to engage the best teachers in sharing 
     ideas on staffing high-poverty, underachieving schools with 
     the most accomplished teachers; and
       Whereas John I. Wilson was presented with the Educator 500 
     President's Award in 2006: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commends John I. Wilson for his leadership and service 
     to educators across North Carolina and the United States;
       (2) recognizes John I. Wilson as a successful leader who 
     has served the United States by improving our education 
     system;
       (3) commends John I. Wilson for his numerous 
     accomplishments;
       (4) congratulates John I. Wilson on his retirement; and
       (5) supports the continued effort of education leaders to 
     aid and improve the education system of the United States.

                          ____________________