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H. R. No. 139 *HR43/R2725* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2
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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representative Bell (65th)
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 139
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING DR. SARA HARPER 1
FOR WINNING THE PRESTIGIOUS 2024 DR. RUTHIE SMITH STEVENSON 2
DOCTORAL AWARD IN RECOGNITION OF HER OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS AS 3
PRINCIPAL OF MCWILLIE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. 4
WHEREAS, on October 25, 2025, Mississippi College awarded Dr. 5
Sara Harper the 2024 Dr. Ruthie Smith Stevenson Doctoral Award in 6
recognition of her exceptional contributions as a principal within 7
the Jackson Public School District; and 8
WHEREAS, Dr. Harper received her bachelor's degree in 9
elementary education from Millsaps College and her master's degree 10
in counseling from Jackson State University, and she diligently 11
continued her education at Mississippi College, where she earned a 12
specialist's degree and doctoral degree in educational leadership 13
and supervision; and 14
WHEREAS, launching her impactful career in public education, 15
Dr. Harper began teaching in the Jackson Public School District in 16
2000, training the minds and igniting the imaginations of her 17
students, and in 2007, she joined the staff at McWillie Elementary 18
School as a teacher for Montessori Elementary I and II; and 19
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WHEREAS, Dr. Harper became the principal of McWillie 20
Elementary in 2013, and in her time at the helm of its 21
administration over the past 13 years, the school has consistently 22
maintained an "A" rating, ranking in the top five percent of 23
schools across the State of Mississippi and as one of the top 24
three schools in the district; and 25
WHEREAS, with over 400 students enrolled and 300 students in 26
an early childhood program, McWillie Elementary is the only public 27
Montessori school in Mississippi, and the school's faculty, staff, 28
students, parents and community members have greatly benefited 29
from Dr. Harper's leadership and guidance, which has empowered 30
them to take ownership of the process of educating the citizens of 31
Mississippi; and 32
WHEREAS, Dr. Harper is guided by her belief that educators 33
must prepare safe, nurturing learning environments for the 34
appropriate stages of child development, fostering each student's 35
natural desire to learn while cultivating his or her unique gifts 36
and abilities, and her faithful pursuit of this mission has paid 37
off in spades, as the school has witnessed the amazing progress of 38
its students who have stepped into the next chapter of their lives 39
as self-assured, successful individuals and problem-solvers; and 40
WHEREAS, distinguishing herself as a mentor to her peers, Dr. 41
Harper currently serves on the Mississippi Department of Education 42
Principal Advisory Council and as a principal coach for the 43
Jackson Public School District, providing support and guidance to 44
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other principals and helping them make decisions that positively 45
impact all children; and 46
WHEREAS, Dr. Harper further developed her skills as a natural 47
leader at the Mississippi Leading Innovative Teaching and Learning 48
Environments in Early Childhood Institute, where she graduated as 49
a cohort member in 2024, and she is a graduate and current board 50
member of Leadership Greater Jackson, one of the most successful 51
training programs for young leaders with the desire and potential 52
to work together to better the Jackson community; and 53
WHEREAS, outside of the walls of McWillie Elementary, Dr. 54
Harper is also dedicated to serving children in the community at 55
large as a member of Junior League of Jackson, which provides 56
services and assistance to children in the Metro Jackson area 57
through academic growth projects, essential needs projects, health 58
and mental well-being programs, and signature projects with the 59
Children's Cancer Center at Children's of Mississippi and the 60
Mississippi Children's Museum; and 61
WHEREAS, Dr. Harper also extends her exemplary efforts beyond 62
her work in elementary education by lending her expertise to local 63
universities and colleges, both as a mentor for candidates in the 64
Master's of Arts in Teaching Program and the Education Doctoral 65
Program at Belhaven University and as an active advisory board 66
member and facilitator of the Principals' Institute at Mississippi 67
College; and 68
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WHEREAS, a testament to her abundance of hard work and 69
unwavering dedication to providing an excellent educational 70
environment, Dr. Harper was selected as the Mississippi 71
Congressional District 2 Administrator of the Year, an accolade 72
that places her among the top four administrators statewide; and 73
WHEREAS, Dr. Harper has been recognized with many other 74
honors and awards throughout her illustrious career, including 75
Jackson Public School District Administrator of the Year, McWillie 76
Elementary School Teacher of the Year, Mississippi College Top 77
Honor's List (4.0 GPA), Jackson State University Dean's List (4.0 78
GPA), Lee Elementary School Marva Collins Award and Lee Elementary 79
School Teacher of the Year; and 80
WHEREAS, using her God-given talent as an instructor, Dr. 81
Harper teaches Sunday School to 3 and 4-year-olds at Word of Life 82
Church, where she is an active member, and she resides in Madison 83
with her husband, Ontario, and her daughter, Holland, who is a 84
PreK-4 Montessori student at McWillie Elementary; and 85
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to 86
recognize and commend extraordinary Mississippi educators and 87
administrators, especially those such as Dr. Sara Harper, whose 88
passion for education, commitment to her students, and superb 89
leadership brings great pride to her community, the City of 90
Jackson, and the entire State of Mississippi: 91
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF 92
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby 93
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ST: Dr. Sara Harper; commend upon winning the
prestigious 2024 Dr. Ruthie Smith Stevenson
Doctoral Award.
commend and congratulate Dr. Sara Harper for winning the 2024 Dr. 94
Ruthie Smith Stevenson Doctoral Award in recognition of her vast 95
contributions as Principal of McWillie Elementary School and wish 96
her continued success in all her future endeavors. 97
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be 98
furnished to Dr. Sara Harper and to the members of the Capitol 99
Press Corps. 100