NO. R-287. JOINT RESOLUTION in Memory of Former University of Vermont Professor Deedee Jameson

NO. R-287 Page 3

NO. R-287. JOINT RESOLUTION in memory of former University of Vermont Professor Deedee Jameson.

(J.R.H. 211)

Offered by: Representatives Symington of Jericho, Doyle of Richmond, Heath of Westford, Hummel of Underhill and Pugh of South Burlington.

Whereas, Deedee Jameson’s career in early childhood education is a story of determination and lasting benefit to the children of Vermont, and

Whereas, she began her professional work by establishing the Saxon Hill Cooperative Pre-School and Kindergarten in the early 1960s, teaching the first classes at her home in Jericho, and later relocating the school to its current location, and

Whereas, Deedee was instrumental in initiating the federal Head Start program in Vermont, and

Whereas, Deedee’s dedication to early childhood education was amply demonstrated when she earned a doctorate in the field, while simultaneously raising five youngsters as a single parent and teaching the sixth grade in the Jericho Elementary School, and

Whereas, her mastery of the subject led to her appointment as head of the early childhood development program at the University of Vermont, in which capacity she trained hundreds of educators, and

Whereas, aside from her professional career, Deedee took her civic responsibilities very seriously in many ways, including serving as a founder of the Jericho-Underhill Library District and an early board member of the Deborah Rawson Library, serving on the Jericho Conservation Commission, volunteering at the Jericho Historical Society’s Old Mill Craft Shop, and being a consummate political campaign volunteer, and

Whereas, she devoted many hours to teaching religious education at the First Unitarian Universalist Society in Burlington, and later was a leading founder of the Mt. Mansfield Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, where she guided the religious education and youth programs and served for several years as the fellowship’s secretary, and

Whereas, in the years following her retirement from the University of Vermont, she established the innovative ELF (Environmental Learning) program at Jericho Elementary School which engages students and parents in significant community environmental field projects, and

Whereas, despite her recent death, her legacy of both improved early childhood education in Vermont and an enriched community life in Jericho will endure, and

Whereas, her five children Hilary, Bill, Julie, Scot and Chuck, and her seven grandchildren will especially miss her guidance, wisdom, humor and companionship, now therefore be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:

That the General Assembly extends sincere condolences to the family of Deedee Jameson, and be it further

Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to each of her five children.