dChan - Q Origins Project Archive

<BillNo<Sponsor>SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 565By AkbariSJR0565006549-1-A RESOLUTION to recognize Marva Gossett Bell of Memphis on the occasion of herretirement.WHEREAS, it is fitting that we should recognize, particularly on the occasion of their retirement, those outstanding teachers who have devoted their careers to providing the highest quality education for Tennessee's students; andWHEREAS, Marva Gossett Bell is one such estimable educator who will enter her well-deserved retirement after thirty-five years in the classroom as a teacher of early childhood, special education, and the method of Dr. Maria Montessori; and WHEREAS, the daughter of Civil Rights activists in Memphis, the mother of three successful adult children, and a grandmother, Marva Gossett Bell is a highly respected member of her community; and WHEREAS, Marva Gossett Bell holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from Rhodes College, a Master of Science degree in Special Education from the University of Memphis, and Montessori teacher certification from the Memphis Montessori Institute; and WHEREAS, her thirty-five years of teaching experience include years of service within private Montessori schools; the Shrine School, a public school that specializes in serving childrenwith multiple disabilities; the campus school operated by the University of Memphis; and the last six years as a founding teacher at Libertas School of Memphis; and WHEREAS, Ms. Bell has been instrumental as a teacher-leader at Libertas, which is the first and only public Montessori charter school in Tennessee; due in part to Ms. Bell's enormous contributions, Libertas, which is a part of Tennessee's Achievement School District, has transformed a struggling neighborhood elementary school into a Level 5 school, the highest designation for academic growth in the State; and WHEREAS, no stranger to awards and accolades, Marva Gossett Bell was rated a Level 5 teacher for performing significantly above expectations during her time in the public school

-2-006549system; academically, she is an expert teacher of early literacy and mathematics, who has helped close the gap in learning for students in poverty and those with special needs; and WHEREAS, more exceptional is how she develops the whole child, as Ms. Bell teaches sensorial and practical life, fine and gross motor skills, restorative practices, peaceful conflict resolution, and culture. She enriches her students by imparting her deep knowledge of African-American history and culture, poetry, and literature; and WHEREAS, what makes Ms. Bell's classroom truly a national model is how she harmonizes diverse students into a highly functioning community; her classroom includes incredibly diverse levels of ability, from autism and developmental delay to cerebral palsy, aswell as intellectually gifted. She empowers all children to be independent, while helping them care for and depend on each other and to thrive together; and WHEREAS, during her extensive career, she also spent seven years training other teachers for theMemphis Montessori Institute; the teachers who have been trained by Ms. Bell describe her as among the greatest teachers they have ever met; and WHEREAS, an organized professional who always set high expectations for her students, including our colleagueState Senator Raumesh Akbari and her twin sister, Raumina Akbari, Marva Gossett Bell has truly served as an inspiration to her colleagues and her students alike, and her friendship and counsel are highly valued by those who are fortunate to know her; andWHEREAS, throughout her estimable career, Ms. Bell has demonstrated the utmost professionalism, ability, and integrity, winning the unbridled respect and admiration of the community at large; andWHEREAS, Marva Gossett Bell truly epitomizes the dedicated teacher who is wholly committed to the highest ideals of public service and quality education for all, and she should be specially recognized for her manifold achievements on the occasion of her retirement; now, therefore,

-3-006549BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED TWELFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING, that we honor Marva Gossett Bell on the occasion of her retirement, commending her exceptional service to the children of Memphis, saluting her professional expertise and personal excellence, and extending to her our heartfelt wishes for a happy and fulfilling retirement and every continued success in her future endeavors.BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared for presentation with this final clause omitted from such copy and upon proper request made to the appropriate clerk, the language appearing immediately following the State seal appear without House or Senate designation

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>SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 565By AkbariS

Raumesh Aleza Akbari (ruh-MESH ack-BERRY) (born April 14, 1984)[1] is an American politician and member of the Tennessee Senate for the 29th district since 2019. She was formerly a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives for the 91st district. She currently serves as First Vice Chair of the Education Committee, and a member of the Commerce and Labor Committee, and the Ethics Subcommittee.[1] She is a member of the Democratic Party.

Early life and education

Akbari was born in Memphis, Tennessee to parents Lisa and Hooshang, both professional trichologists.[2] Her father is from Iran, and her mother is from Memphis.[3][4] She has a fraternal twin, Raumina.[5]

Akbari is a 2002 graduate of Cordova High School in Memphis, Tennessee. She attended Washington University in St. Louis, where she graduated in 2006 with a BA degree in African American studies and a minor in political science. In 2009, Akbari received her Juris Doctor from St. Louis University School of Law. She currently directs legal affairs and human resources for Akbari Corp., a small business founded by her parents in 1981.[6] Senator Akbari is a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority and The Links.

Career

Akbari was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2013 following a special election. She served in the state House for three terms until her 2018 election to the Tennessee State Senate.

Akbari is a member of the Ben F. Jones Chapter of the National Bar Association, National First Vice President of the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women (N.O.B.E.L Women), NewDEAL, National Black Caucus of State Legislators, and the Democratic Party of Shelby County.

In 2015, Akbari was elected by her peers to serve Tennessee as the state co-director of Women in Government, a national non-profit, non-partisan organization of female state legislators.[7] In 2017, she was selected by the Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators to serve as that organization's[8] Chair. Akbari currently serves as the Financial Secretary of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators.

Akbari was selected as one of seventeen speakers to jointly deliver the keynote address at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.[9] She also delivered an address at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.[10]

In 2019, Akbari was selected to be a Marshall Memorial Fellow in Europe for the German Marshall Fund.[11]

Criminal justice reform

In 2017, Akbari introduced legislation to ban lifetime prison sentences for minors. Akbari advocated for the successful 2019 clemency of Cyntoia Brown and reintroduced the legislation in 2019.[12] Akbari has also advocated for cash bail reform, eliminating mandatory minimum sentences, and progressive sentencing laws.

In 2020, Vice President Biden appointed Akbari to a national criminal justice reform task force.[13] Fellow members of the task force include Eric Holder, John Kerry, and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.[14]