WHEREAS, the State Board of Education supports efforts to reward Alabama’s outstanding educators for their contributions to the educational experiences of Alabama’s students; and
 
WHEREAS, the Milken Family Foundation and the Alabama Department of Education provide Alabama teachers the opportunity to participate in the National Educator Awards; and
 
WHEREAS, the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Awards were established in 1985 to acknowledge educators’ crucial contributions to our national well-being, and to provide public recognition and financial rewards to talented elementary and secondary educators; and
 
WHEREAS, in 2004, 100 educators in 48 states received Milken Family Foundation National Educator Awards in honor of their efforts on behalf of the nation’s schoolchildren; and
 
WHEREAS, Ms. Patton personifies the All-American teacher, is remembered and admired by her students for exposing them to a new and wonderful world of learning, Lou Ann R. Patton, a second grade teacher at Guntersville Elementary School, has been named as Alabama’s 2004 recipient of the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award and receives an unrestricted award of $25,000:
 
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the State Board of Education does hereby commend Lou Ann R. Patton for achieving this prestigious honor and becoming Alabama’s 19th Milken Educator; and
 
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the State Board of Education does hereby commend Mr. Andrew N. Lee, Superintendent, Guntersville City Schools, and Ms. Margaret Daniel, Principal, Guntersville Elementary School, for their support of Ms. Patton and of public education.