2025 SESSION

ENROLLED

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 366

Commending Leanne Eyler.

Agreed to by the Senate, February 13, 2025

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 17, 2025

WHEREAS, Leanne Eyler, an outstanding educator at Oceanair Elementary School in Norfolk, received the Teacher of the Year award in 2025 for her exceptional service to young people; and

WHEREAS, Leanne Eyler learned her love of athletics at a young age from her coach and father, Lee Eyler, with the unwavering support of her mother, Arlene Eyler, and she became a star basketball player at Norfolk Catholic High School in Norfolk; and

WHEREAS, Leanne Eyler was selected as the most valuable player of the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools Tournament in 1980 and was invited to the 1980 Olympic basketball tryouts in Colorado Springs, Colorado; she was subsequently inducted into the Norfolk Catholic High School Hall of Fame in 1993; and

WHEREAS, Leanne Eyler went on to play basketball at Christopher Newport University and was the most valuable player of the Dixie Conference Tournament in 1985 and a National Collegiate Athletics Association Division III second-team All-American; and

WHEREAS, after graduating with a degree in education, Leanne Eyler channeled her love of athletics into her career by becoming a physical education teacher, first at the Hebrew Academy of Tidewater, then at Catholic High School in Virginia Beach, followed by Norview High School in Norfolk, and most recently, Oceanair Elementary School; and

WHEREAS, in addition to her work as an educator, Leanne Eyler has been an ardent supporter of women's athletics as a longtime basketball, softball, and field hockey coach and has also served as a high school and Division I college basketball referee; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Leanne Eyler on the occasion of her selection as Teacher of the Year in 2025; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Leanne Eyler as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for her commitment to excellence in education and contributions to young people in Hampton Roads.