Renton Rotary honors January teachers of the month

The Rotary Club of Renton has honored its Teachers of the Month for January.

As part of the recognition, teachers attend Rotary’s Teacher of the Month luncheon at Maplewood Golf Course. Each teacher receives $200 for classroom supplies or instructional materials.

• Scheila Pikes is a second-grade teacher at Benson Hill Elementary.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in liberal arts and education from California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, Calif. She earned a master’s degree in education and arts from Lesley University.

Before moving to Renton, Pikes taught in a bilingual classroom in California for six years.

This is her 15th year teaching in Renton.

• Sherry Rutherford is a first-grade teacher at Sierra Heights Elementary.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in social studies from Western Washington University. She earned her master’s degree in creative arts in learning from Lesley University.

Rutherford has been a teacher in Renton for more than 30 years.

• Ben Graeber is a language arts teacher at Hazen High School.

He majored in literary studies and teacher certification and minored in journalism at Beloit College, in Beloit, Wisc. He earned a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction focusing on language, literacy and culture from the University of Washington.

This is Graeber’s fourth year teaching in Renton.