Five Renton teachers honored with Ahead of the Class award

Published 3:58 pm Thursday, April 4, 2013

Five outstanding Renton teachers were honored Wednesday in the 2013 Ahead of the Class Excellence in Education Awards, sponsored by the Renton Chamber of Commerce.

The five were announced from a field of 10 finalists and recognized at a special awards ceremony at the Virginia Mason Activity Center, home to the Seattle Seahawks.

The five winners are:

• Sandy Cato, Lindbergh High School, ninth-12th grade Credit Recovery, at- risk freshmen

• Katie Jeppesen, Sierra Heights Elementary, second grade

• Creed Tremaine Nelson, Lindbergh High School, woodshop, construction, algebra apps

• Laurie Parten, McKnight Middle School, sixth, seventh and eighth math

• Rebecca Ritchie, Nelsen Middle School, sixth-grade computers

The five winners, who demonstrate high standards of professionalism in education, will receive a $500 cash award.

More than 145 teachers were nominated by their peers, students and parents.  Forty-five teachers sent in applications.

Here is what their principals had to say about the winners:

Sandy Cato

In her role as the Academic Acceleration instructor, Ms. Cato works with at risk students who, in the past, have experienced little engagement in the educational process.  Her ability to “connect” with these students has had a significant positive in their level of engagement and their academic success.  Students understand, sometimes begrudgingly, that Ms. Cato is relentless in her mission to engage each student in learning. They know that she is non-judgmental and has a sincere interest in their welfare. Ms. Cato is well aware that her communication with the families of her students is an important factor in the process, and she makes every effort to contact them and include them in the educational process.   Her consistent and collaborative communication with other LHS staff keeps her informed of her students’ progress in their classes which provides the opportunity for a proactive response to a dip in student academic performance.

– Principal Tres Genger

Katie Jeppesen

Catherine spends hours outside the workday planning lessons, gathering materials and exploring ways to engage her students more fully.  She uses technology to not only enhance her own presentations but she provides instruction and time for students to become more computer literate.

– Principal Nanci Davis

Creed Tremaine Nelson

As the Industrial Technology department chair, Mr. Nelson was instrumental in the founding of the annual LHS Trades Fair.  This event, hosted by Lindbergh High School, draws twenty or more participants/presenters that represent multiple trades, apprentice programs, and schools.  In this way, Lindbergh students are afforded the opportunity to explore and investigate career paths that do not follow the traditional four year college degree track.  The planning and preparation for the event involves contacting and coordinating prospective participants from the community, setting and tearing down the facility, and communicating with LHS staff regarding student visitations to the event.

– Principal Tres Genger

Laurie Parten

Laurie is a wonderful collaborator as the mathematics department chair working with me on a variety of math department initiatives.  She helps craft the math department schedule each year to include as many math intervention classes as possible, so that we maximize our ability to work with students to catch up on their math skills.  Leading into this year, she specifically requested that we explore and create a looping class of current 6th graders whom she would teach over the next two years with the explicit goal of increasing students’ skills up to or beyond grade-level by the start of 8th grade.

– Principal Craig Cooper

Rebecca Ritchie

Rebecca is our National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) Advisor.  As she does with all the activities she is involved in, she puts her heart and soul into her role.  She organizes fundraisers and field trips throughout the year. She promotes NJHS with the staff, students, and community by promoting academic excellence.  The highlight of the program is the induction ceremony.  Rebecca puts hours of planning and organizing into the event, which involved multiple staff members, district administrators, and the PTSA.  She coordinates all the pieces for a special evening for the community.  The gym is filled with proud parents and excited students who have achieved the 3.5 grade point average and required citizenship grade to be inducted.  This is a clear example of how Rebecca is able to partner with school and community to enhance student learning.

– Principal Colin Falk