SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 24

(By Senators Caldwell, Guills, Fanning, Chafin, Unger, Plymale, Bowman, Edgell, White, Rowe, Jenkins, Minard, Sharpe, Ross, Dempsey, Facemyer, Hunter, Oliverio, Smith, Love, Weeks, Boley, Minear, Sprouse, Bailey, McKenzie, McCabe, Prezioso, Kessler and Tomblin)


Congratulating Deborah S. Akers, Ed. D., on her selection as West Virginia Superintendent of the Year, 2002.

Whereas, Deborah S. Akers attended Concord College, where she received a bachelor's degree in elementary education in 1974. She began her career as an elementary school teacher in Mercer County schools. After earning a master's degree from Radford University and a doctorate in education from Virginia Tech, she progressed through the administrative ranks of the Mercer County school system; and
Whereas, In 1993, Deborah S. Akers was named Superintendent of Mercer County schools, making her the first woman to hold the chief executive officer's title in the school system in southern West Virginia; and
Whereas, Under the direction and initiative of Deborah S. Akers, programs were developed and implemented to turn around the troubled school system. An alternative program was established for students serving expulsions from school to allow them to continue their education while on expulsion; and
Whereas, Deborah S. Akers has worked to solve budget deficits, declining enrollments, loss of funded employee positions and issues arising as the county reduced its number of high schools from four to one. Her leadership in controlling and managing spending resulted in financial stability for the system; and
Whereas, Proudly, Deborah S. Akers was selected by the West Virginia Association of School Administrators as the West Virginia Superintendent of the Year, 2002; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate:
That the Senate hereby congratulates Deborah S. Akers, Ed. D., on her selection as West Virginia Superintendent of the Year, 2002; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Senate commends Deborah S. Akers for her outstanding dedication and commitment to enhancing educational excellence and for her innovative leadership skills which have helped improve the Mercer County school system; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to Deborah S. Akers, Ed. D., West Virginia Superintendent of the Year, 2002.