--- title: HR 2039. Ellis, Jelinda W.; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr2039 cite_as: HR 2039, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2039 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2039.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2039/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74659 date: 2026-03-31 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2038.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2040.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2039.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 2039 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-03-31 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Mary Ann Santos text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR2039/2025 upstream_id: 2140113 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - commendation resolution - dance education - Henry County - arts education --- # HR 2039. Ellis, Jelinda W.; commend ## Text House Resolution 2039 By: Representative Santos of the 117th A RESOLUTION Commending Jelinda W. Ellis; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Jelinda W. Ellis has demonstrated a strong commitment to the arts through her work as a dancer, educator, and entrepreneur, contributing to the cultural and educational landscape of her community; and WHEREAS, a native of Jackson, Georgia, she began her training in dance at the age of three at the Robinson School of Dance (T&K Studios), where she developed a foundation in ballet, tap, jazz, and pointe; and WHEREAS, during her collegiate years, she began teaching and choreographing at T&K Studios and Gift of Dance Studio, instructing students across multiple dance disciplines and serving as a studio and recital assistant; and WHEREAS, her competition choreography for students aged 3 to 13 earned numerous accolades, including first-place awards, judges' choice recognitions, and honors for best choreography; and WHEREAS, in 2017, she was accepted into Debbie Allen's Summer Dance Intensive, where she expanded her training across a wide range of dance styles, and she thereafter continued to build her career by teaching and performing, including work with Broadway Performing Arts Center and the H.O.M.E. of Fine Arts program for homeschool students; and WHEREAS, on May 1, 2019, she realized her vision of expanding access to dance education by founding Elevé Dance Studio in Locust Grove, Georgia, where she provides instruction to students of all ages and skill levels and fosters an environment centered on discipline, creativity, and artistic growth; and WHEREAS, in August 2020, she was selected as the first dance teacher at McDonough Middle School, establishing a program that remains the only middle school dance program in Henry County, and she further strengthened her professional qualifications by becoming a certified dance educator in 2023; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this exceptional individual be appropriately honored during this special time. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body commend Jelinda W. Ellis for her contributions to dance education and extend best wishes for continued success. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Jelinda W. Ellis. ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A House resolution honors Jelinda W. Ellis of Henry County for her career as a dancer, choreographer, and dance educator, including founding a Locust Grove dance studio. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a ceremonial honor from the Georgia House of Representatives recognizing Jelinda W. Ellis, a dancer and educator from Jackson, Georgia. It recounts her training beginning at age three, her work choreographing and teaching at multiple studios, her acceptance into Debbie Allen's Summer Dance Intensive in 2017, and her founding of Elevé Dance Studio in Locust Grove in 2019. The resolution also notes she became the first dance teacher at McDonough Middle School in 2020, creating the only middle school dance program in Henry County, and that she became a certified dance educator in 2023. The House formally commends her and directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy of the resolution for her. ### What it does - Formally commends Jelinda W. Ellis for her career and contributions to dance education in Georgia. - Recites her biography, training, and professional milestones as the House's stated reasons for the honor. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to her. - Extends the House's best wishes for her continued success but creates no new law, funding, or program. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names and honors Jelinda W. Ellis. It also references institutions tied to her career, including T&K Studios, Gift of Dance Studio, McDonough Middle School, Henry County schools, and her own Elevé Dance Studio in Locust Grove. ### Why it matters This is a symbolic honor with no legal or financial effect on Georgians generally. Its practical impact is limited to formally recognizing Ellis's career and providing her a copy of the resolution as a keepsake. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses recount Ellis's dance training, teaching career, studio founding in 2019, and certification as a dance educator in 2023. - The resolving clause has the House of Representatives commend Ellis for her contributions to dance education. - A further resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy available for distribution to Ellis. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-03-31) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-03-31) - Sponsors: Mary Ann Santos - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74659 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2039.md?full=1