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2019 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 1018
Commending Timothy Wyatt Cotman, Jr.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 19, 2019
Agreed to by the Senate, February 21, 2019

 

WHEREAS, Timothy Wyatt Cotman, Jr., an equity and excellence coordinator and English teacher at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Arlington, won the Region 4 Teacher of the Year award; and

WHEREAS, Timothy “Tim” Wyatt Cotman, Jr., earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Education in curriculum and instruction from George Mason University (GMU); he also earned a graduate certificate in advanced skills in conflict resolution from GMU; and

WHEREAS, while working on his teacher licensure and master’s degree, Tim Cotman was employed as a minority achievement coordinator for Arlington Public Schools; his work focuses on helping to create a more equitable learning environment for students, which he considers his greatest accomplishment and contribution to education; and

WHEREAS, early in Tim Cotman’s career, he co-facilitated workshops for teachers on culturally affirming teacher strategies, and he was instrumental in the Arlington Public Schools Cultural Competencies initiative, through which the entire staff was trained in effective and appropriate communication with people of other cultures; and

WHEREAS, Tim Cotman’s leadership is evident in and outside of the classroom; he works behind the scenes to increase the number of diverse participants in back-to-school nights and has increased participation of internal and external groups that bolster engagement of students, communities of color, and English language learners; and

WHEREAS, Tim Cotman has set up partnerships to provide robotics, soccer, character development, literacy, martial arts, and conflict resolution programming at his school; and

WHEREAS, Tim Cotman is a tremendous asset as a tenacious educator who both challenges and motivates student and adult learners to consider their own social constructs regarding race and identity and imparts thought-provoking training, workshops, lessons, and dialogue around racial and social justice and injustice; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Timothy Wyatt Cotman, Jr., an equity and excellence coordinator and English teacher at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Arlington, for winning the Region 4 Teacher of the Year award; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Timothy Wyatt Cotman, Jr., as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for his dedication to students and for his dedication to education.