SJR54 ENROLLED
1 I8YN66-2
2 By Senators Allen, Albritton, Barfoot, Beasley, Bell, Butler,
3 Carnley, Chambliss, Chesteen, Coleman, Coleman-Madison,
4 Elliott, Figures, Givhan, Gudger, Hatcher, Hovey, Jones,
5 Kelley, Livingston, Melson, Orr, Price, Reed, Roberts,
6 Scofield, Sessions, Shelnutt, Singleton, Smitherman, Stewart,
7 Stutts, Waggoner, Weaver, Williams
8 RFD: RULES
9 First Read: 27-Apr-23
10
11 2023 Regular Session
Page 0
 SJR54 Enrolled
1 Enrolled, An Act,
2
3
4 SJR___ COMMENDING MRS. JEANA ROSS FOR BEING INDUCTED INTO
5 THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION 2023 HALL OF
6 FAME.
7
8 WHEREAS, with very special pleasure, we highly
9 commend Mrs. Jeana Ross, retired Alabama Department of Early
10 Childhood Education Secretary, for being inducted into The
11 University of Alabama College of Education 2023 Hall of
12 Fame; and
13 WHEREAS, for 18 years, Mrs. Ross served state public
14 schools as both a teacher and an administrator; throughout
15 her career, she remained dedicated to ensuring the existence
16 of quality early childhood programs in Alabama and helped
17 acquire more than $7.5 million in grant funding to go toward
18 initiatives and services that benefit low-income children
19 and families; she was appointed to the governor's task force
20 to formulate a plan and oversee the expansion of the Alabama
21 First Class Pre-K Program in 2007, was appointed as
22 Secretary of the Department of Early Childhood Education in
23 2012, and was appointed to serve on the Education Commission
24 of the United States in 2017; although she retired in 2020,
25 she continues to advocate for quality early childhood
Page 1
 SJR54 Enrolled
26 education and support for families in need; and
27 WHEREAS, Mrs. Ross's other accomplishments include
28 guiding the Pre-K Through Third Grade P-3 Integrated
29 Approach to Early Learning and its leadership academy;
30 starting one of the first Alabama Office of School Readiness
31 Programs for pre-k in the Marshall County School System;
32 leading the launch of the Born Ready initiative; and forming
33 a research and evaluation team to assess the positive
34 effects of the state's early childhood education programs;
35 Alabama is now considered a model and national leader in
36 high quality early childhood education; and
37 WHEREAS, Mrs. Ross holds a Bachelor of Science Degree
38 in early Childhood Education from The University of Alabama
39 at Birmingham and a Master of Arts Degree in Education
40 Leadership from The University of Alabama; and
41 WHEREAS, Mrs. Ross and her husband have two sons and
42 twin grandchildren; and
43 WHEREAS, Mrs. Ross is a remarkable leader, friend,
44 and inspiration in the lives of many and is very deserving
45 of special recognition; now therefore,
46 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH
47 HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That Mrs. Jeana Ross, retired
48 Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education Secretary,
49 is highly commended for being inducted into The University
50 of Alabama College of Education 2023 Hall of Fame, and we
Page 2
 SJR54 Enrolled
51 hereby dedicate this resolution to her with utmost
52 admiration and regard.
Page 3
 SJR54 Enrolled
53
54
55 ________________________________________________
56 President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
57
58
59
60 ________________________________________________
61 Speaker of the House of Representatives
62
63
64 SJR54
65 Senate 27-April-23
66 I hereby certify that the within Act originated in and
67 passed the Senate.
68
69 Patrick Harris,
70 Secretary.
71
72
73
74
75 House of Representatives
76 Passed: 04-May-23
77
78
79
80
81 By: Senator Allen
Page 4