Ten outstanding Renton teachers have been selected as finalists for 2013 Ahead of the Class Excellence in Education Awards, sponsored by the Renton Chamber of Commerce.

Five winners will be announced at the special awards ceremony on Wednesday, April 3, where  friends, family, students and members of the Renton business community will gather to honor the teachers.

The ceremony is 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the Virginia Mason Activity Center, 12 Seahawk Way, Renton.

To RSVP or for more information, call the Chamber at 425-226-4560 or visit www.GoRenton.com.

This year’s finalists are:

• John Austin, Dimmitt Middle School, eighth-grade language arts

• Melissa Barnard, Nelsen Middle School, eighth-grade science

• Marcy Caruso, Nelsen Middle School, seventh- and eighth-grade language arts and social studies

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

• Katie Jeppesen, Sierra Heights Elementary, second grade

• Nancy Lotto, Renton Park Elementary, first 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

• Elizabeth Zimmerman, Campbell Hill Elementary, third grade

The five winners, who demonstrate high standards of professionalism in education, will receive a $500 cash award and special honors at the award ceremony, which is free and open to the public.

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

Two committees of community and business leaders reviewed applications and conducted personal interviews with the teachers to select this year’s winners. The selection criteria for naming the award winners are based on national standards for teaching.

The Ahead of the Class award program is a partnership between the Renton Chamber of Commerce, Renton public and private schools, and Renton businesses. The program’s aim is to enhance community awareness of the excellence of education in Renton.

The program also provides an opportunity for community partners to show their support for education and our valuable teachers.

The sponsors are:  Presenting Sponsor: Seattle Seahawks; Corporate Sponsors: First Savings Bank Northwest, Marcie Maxwell and Lisa Lam, Windermere Real Estate, Oil Can Henry’s and Wizards of the Coast,  Reception Sponsor: Renton PTSA Council; Entertainment Sponsor: Renton Education Association Video Sponsor: Puget Sound Access/ Channel 77; Media Sponsor, Morning Star Photography.

Emcee for this years ceremony is Seattle Seahawks spokesperson Tony Ventrella Entertainment by Blue Thunder and Seahawk mascot Blitz.

Here are biographies of the teachers, written by their principals and provided by the Renton Chamber of Commerce.

John Austin

“He is an important member of our leadership efforts at Dimmitt as well. Mr. Austin serves on our School Innovation Planning Team, serves as our 8th Grade Level Leader, and also serves as a teacher coach and facilitator with SIOP strategies, which are strategies that have been shown to be particularly effective with our second language students. In all of these roles, Mr. Austin works closely with me to ensure his efforts are aligned with our school goals and initiatives.” Principal John Schmitz

Melissa Barnard

“Melissa is constantly finding ways to more effectively communicate with parents.  She maintains a regular website, posting assignments and other classroom information for parents and students.  She uses regular emails to communicate important information to her parents.  She also encourages parents to visit her classroom.  Melissa wanted parents to visit her classroom, so she invited them to observe their students make presentations.  Parents received a personal invitation and signed up a day to visit the classroom.  Many parents were able to make it to the class and enjoyed the experience. It allowed them to observe their students’ work first hand and build a stronger relationship with Melissa.” Principal Colin Falk

Marcy Caruso

Marcy has personality qualities that lends to forming effective partnerships.  She is creative and always looking for ways to improve the school and her classroom, by listening to ideas and finding positive ways to improve on them.  She consistently reaches out the community to have guest speakers and presenters in her classroom, as well as leading groups of teachers on seminars in the community.  She will be taking a group of teachers to Bainbridge Island to learn about the Japanese internment camps and how to implement primary documents and site-based learning in their classroom. Principal Colin Falk

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

Nancy Lotto

One of the most impressive features of Ms. Lotto’s teaching is how well she builds a community within her classroom.  She teaches her students how to work together and help each other as a classroom “family.”  This includes classroom visitors as well.  Ms. Lotto invites others to come to her room and work with her students or just to allow her students to brag about how well they are doing.  The other day I walked in and Ms. Lotto asked if some students could read to me.  I had a huge group of students rush up to me begging to read me their book that they had just created.  It was a great opportunity for the students to practice reading their writing as well as a fun experience for me. Principal JoEllen Tapper

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

Elizabeth Zimmerman

During my observations, I have observed a myriad of strategies Ms. Zimmerman uses to differentiate her pedagogy to varied learning styles and abilities.  Additionally, she modifies her lessons to meet the individual needs of her students.  Ms. Zimmerman is a strong advocate of students not only in her classroom, but also in her grade level as they share students for our reading block.  She teaches the curriculum with fidelity and is focused on improving her instructional practice. Principal Zakariya Palsha