Recognizing May 4-10, 2014 as National Teacher Appreciation Week and recognizing and honoring the 55 outstanding Philadelphia public school teachers, recipients of the Lindback Award for Distinguished High School Teachers for excellence and in particular the six recipients from schools located in the 8th Council District.

WHEREAS, The Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation sponsors an annual award that recognizes outstanding teachers. The Lindback Award for Distinguished High School Teachers recognizes one teacher from every Philadelphia public high school who demonstrates excellence in promoting learning at the highest levels. The award recipients are chosen based on their activities that improve the intellectual and character development of students; and

WHEREAS, Gisele Johnson-Smith has more than 30 years of experience in public education. She is Central High School's English department chair, overseeing 18 teachers and the needs of the entire school population; and

WHEREAS, Donna Hill plays an essential role at Widener Memorial School, helping students plan activities and fund-raisers. She has also been instrumental in finding grants to benefit students; and

WHEREAS¸ In six years at Parkway Northwest, Allison Wooley has taught art classes and inspired her students. She has helped coordinate permanent murals that grace Parkway Northwest's hallways; and

WHEREAS, Ambra Hook has served as a science teacher, lead academic coach, and director of science for the Philadelphia School District. She is currently teaching the only four-year STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) program focusing on computer and engineering careers in Philadelphia at the Hill-Freedman School; and

WHEREAS, For the past 17 years, Mark Hoey has been a teacher and coach at the Philadelphia High School for Girls. He is proudest of the success his students have achieved; and

WHEREAS, Michelle Jackson worked as a management trainer before becoming a teacher, and uses team building, presentation delivery, data analysis, and coaching to lay the foundation for her classes, which are full of correlations between lessons and the real world. As a first-year, full-time teacher, she has helped 40 percent of her students increase reading levels, and student attendance improved, as well; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby recognizes May 4-10 as Teacher Appreciation Week in Philadelphia and recognizes and honors the 55 outstanding Philadelphia public school teachers, recipients of the Lindback Award for Distinguished High School Teachers for excellence, and in particular the seven teachers from schools located in the 8th Council District, who received this prestigious award during National Teacher Appreciation Week, May 4-10, 2014.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Gisele Johnson-Smith, Donna Hill, Allison Wooley, Ambra Hook, Mark Hoey, and Michelle Jackson as evidence of the high admiration and sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

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