Four Renton School District employees received this year’s Outstanding Employee awards at Wednesday’s Renton School Board meeting. This is the 30th year of the School Board awards.

Nearly 30 employees were nominated this year. The selection committee included board members and last year’s award winners.

The awards recognize staff who demonstrate an extraordinary level of job performance, vigorous support for students, professionalism and dedication.

William Ramirez

• Outstanding Elementary Teacher

William Ramirez was a second-grade teacher at Sierra Heights Elementary School. He now works as an administrative intern at Cascade Elementary School.

Ramirez has worked in the Renton School District for 10 years. At Sierra Heights he offered translation for Spanish-speaking families, managed the school’s Web site, was the PTSA liaison, served on several school, district and community committees, was a mentor to student teachers and nurtured students and staff.

Ramirez serves on the University of Washington’s Professional Education Advisory Board for Teacher Education.

In 2005, Ramirez spent his summer vacation building schools and teaching children in the jungles of Peru. In 2007, he visited Africa, where he built schools and learned about world culture, history, education, geography and government.

Shawna Hoggard

• Outstanding Secondary Teacher

Shawna Hoggard is a math and science teacher at the H.O.M.E. Program (Homeschool Opportunities for Merging Education).

Hoggard has worked in education for six years. She teaches children in kindergarten through grade 12 at H.O.M.E. — the district’s homeschool program. Hoggard hosts the annual science fair, serves on the building improvement committee and the district’s staff development and mathematics review committees.

Hoggard keeps her education current by taking classes for her math endorsement. She has also completed professional certification training, and she attends both national science teacher conferences and the state’s learning alternatives conferences.

Nancy Ringos

• Outstanding Building Support Person

Nancy Ringos is the librarian at Lindbergh High School.

Ringos has worked in education for 30 years. She began her employment as a clerk/typist and moved through positions to become Lindbergh’s librarian. She has been known to do everything at the school, including helping students with research papers, helping staff with technology and sweeping the stage before a student performance.

Sue Deal

• Outstanding District Support Person

Sue Deal is the manager for classified personnel in Human Resources.

Deal has worked in the Renton School District for 31 years. She began her work as a clerk and continued to excel while moving through the ranks. Deal is manager for all classified staff. Her work has included ensuring every paraeducator in the district is “highly-qualified” under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. She organizes testing for staff and hosts professional development opportunities.

Deal’s work directly helps students by ensuring that staff placements match the needs of students.