Hailed as a stateswoman and a fearless leader, Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, was elected President Pro Tempore of the Texas Senate as the 79th Texas Legislature convened today, and was administered the oath of office by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.

"I am absolutely overwhelmed," said Shapiro following the ceremony. "This chamber represents some of the finest men and women that have ever served in public office. The collegiality that exists in this room is something I cherish and I promise you something I will fight to preserve."

Shapiro said the membership in the Senate "transcends party, transcends ideology, transcends geographic regions and transcends backgrounds." She said the Senate is not just a legislative body. "This is a family - a family of public servants."

Shapiro said public servants are motivated to serve for different reasons. "I wanted to make my parents proud," she said, noting that she is the daughter of Holocaust survivors and the first in her family to graduate from college. "Today's ceremony to me is the embodiment of the American dream," she said, and she asked her fellow senators to dedicate the legislative session "to our most precious resource - our children."

Shapiro said Texas children deserve "the best education, the best health care system and the best Texas we can imagine." She asked the members to ask themselves during the session, "How does what we do improve the lives of children?"

She said the state's "future demands it and our children deserve it."

Gov. Rick Perry paid a first-day visit to the Senate chamber and also paid homage to Shapiro. He said he couldn't help but notice tears in Shapiro's eyes after she was sworn in "tear of joy, tear of gratitude, tears of respect for 30 of your colleagues who love you dearly."

Perry said those Senate members "know what I know - that inside that tough exterior is a great and good Texan who has as big a heart as has ever walked through those two doors."

Shapiro's name was placed in nomination by Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Lewisville, who entered Senate service the same year as Shapiro.

In lighthearted jest, Nelson noted how the two female senators' terms have paralleled each other - both having been elected in the same year, both serving suburban areas of the state and adding, to much laughter, "We're both naturally blond and 40."

Nelson said Shapiro's legislative accomplishments are "too numerous to list," but noted her dedication to education, transportation, security and children's issues.

Asked once to give a one-word description of Shapiro, Nelson said the first word that came to mind is "stateswoman," because she has proved herself to be a "steady leader on very complex issues." Nelson also described her fellow senator as "persistent," and one who "does not back down when she believes in something." She also described her as "fearless," in taking on difficult issues.

However, said Nelson, the one word that comes to mind to best describe Shapiro is "grandmother." Of all of Shapiro's accomplishments on such important state issues as education and criminal justice, Nelson said Shapiro considers being a grandmother "her greatest achievement."

"That's the reason she's a senator. She wants to make this world a better place for those grandchildren - and for all our grandchildren."

Other members of the Senate praised Shapiro for her leadership, and for championing education issues. Sen. Troy Frazer, R-Horseshoe Bend, said Shapiro's accomplishments throughout her life "should be an example for all Texans."

Shapiro is tackling the issue of school finance at a time when the issue is before the Supreme Court, said Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos, D-Austin, trying to lead "when too many people in this building are waiting for 18 pairs of shoes to drop to get the job done." He said when the dust settles on the school finance fight, both Democrats and Republicans will be proud.

Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, called Shapiro "very intelligent and passionate" on the issues she faces in the Senate, and said she is always willing to compromise. "I appreciate the integrity with which you approach an issue," he said.

"I think of you as a survivor," Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, said to Shapiro, pointing to her Jewish faith and her parents having survived the Holocaust. He pointed to her tough initial race in the Senate and her defeating a long-term incumbent. "It was a rough race - for a woman who is tough as nails," he said. Although "tough," he said, the Plano Republican is also "sensitive." He said she will have the responsibility this session not only to craft a political compromise, but also to write a chapter in the state's history books by doing "what's right."