• Eric Hougan, the business education teacher at Renton High School, has been recognized as an Emerging Leader by Phi Delta Kappa International, a leading association of education professionals. Hougan was selected from a competitive class of nominees based on his outstanding professional accomplishments grounded on the tenets of leadership, research and service. Hougan worked in business before becoming a teacher. He recently published a book, “The Road to Teaching: A Guide to Teacher Training, Student Teaching, and Finding a Job,” and is on the path to obtaining national board certification. He is also a board member of the Future of the Law Institute, which encourages minority and economically disadvantaged students to pursue higher education in law through various programs.

• Lindbergh High School’s boys cross country team recently took second place in the Nike Pre-Nationals meet in Portland against 100 teams from across the United States. The team also took first place at the Fort Steilacoom Invitational and first place at the Mt. Baker Invitational against teams from Washington and British Columbia. Lindbergh’s team is ranked third in the state and fifth in the Northwest Region of the United States, which includes Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska and Hawaii.

Randy Matheson, Renton School District