WHEREAS, both the State of Idaho and the nation have placed high priority on preparing students to be creative problem-solvers and collaborative workers; and

        WHEREAS, John “Mick” Sharkey exemplifies excellence in reaching those goals and fostering a love of learning through personal example and strong connections with students and parents; and

       WHEREAS, John “Mick” Sharkey has shared his knowledge and experience through his involvement with his district’s Professional Development Committee, his leadership of Parma High School’s KEYs team, and by mentoring beginning teachers, “offering advice, guidance, and sometimes lunch money;” and

       WHEREAS, John “Mick” Sharkey has furthered Idaho’s goal towards greater achievements in the science arena through his summer fellowship at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories in New York, and by designing, locating funding for, and building a new, state-of-the-art genetics and biotechnology laboratory for Parma High School;

        NOW, THEREFORE, I, DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Governor of the State of Idaho, do hereby proclaim February 27, 2006, to be

JOHN “MICK” SHARKEY DAY

in Idaho, and I urge all citizens to recommit themselves to helping Idaho’s classroom teachers prepare the next generation of Idahoans for the future by providing the best educational opportunities possible.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Idaho at the Capitol in Boise on this seventeenth day of January in the year of our Lord two-thousand and six and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred thirtieth and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred sixteenth.

BEN YSURSA
SECRETARY OF STATE