Renton Educators Receive 'Ahead of the Class' Awards

April 2004 - Seven outstanding Renton teachers will be recognized as the winners of the Fourth Annual Greater Renton Chamber of Commerce Ahead of the Class, Excellence In Education awards at a ceremony on Tuesday, May 4 from 7 – 9 p.m. at the Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center and Renton High School Commons, located at 400 S 2nd in Renton.

The winners are:

• Hilari Anderson; 9th, 11th, and 12th grades; Renton High School
• Sheri Arrigoni; 3rd grade; Cascade Elementary
• Sarah Carlson; 3rd grade; Cascade Elementary
• Jodi Hillbrant-Johnson; 4th and 5th grades; Hazelwood Elementary
• Anna Horton; 7th and 8th grades; Nelsen Middle School
• Deborah Sekreta; 6th grade; Nelsen Middle School
• Tracey Soran-Storgel; Kindergarten; Cascade Elementary

These teachers, who demonstrate high standards of professionalism in education, will receive a $500 cash award at the award ceremony that is free and open to the public.

A selection committee chose the finalists from a pool of nominees who submitted an application, and a team of judges conducted interviews to choose the winners. Over 60 teachers from throughout the Renton area were nominated as individuals or as part of a team. 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 Greater Renton Chamber of Commerce, Renton public and private schools, and businesses. It is part of the Chamber's effort to provide individuals, businesses, and organizations the opportunity to invest in a brighter and better tomorrow for our young people. 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. This year's "Ahead of the Class" sponsors are King & Bunny's Appliances, Marcie Maxwell/Windermere Realtor, McLendon Hardware, Inc., Qualstar Credit Union, Renton Technical College, Ticor Title & Escrow Company and Wizards of the Coast.

2004 Ahead of the Class Nominees

Nancy Balka and Terry Inglis - First Grade Team, Sierra Heights Elementary
Lisa Behmer, Hazen High School*
Ann Braaten, Sierra Heights Elementary
Cary Brengle, Tony Collins, Mae Davis - Specialist Team, Tiffany Park
Elementary
Dominic Bungcayao, Highlands Elementary
Christine Burcham, Sierra Heights Elementary*
Barbie Chaumont, McKnight Middle School
Elaine Churchill, Highlands Elementary
Rhonda Cox, Lynn Maybee, Kay Moilanen - Science Team, Hazelwood Elementary
Joseph Day, Nelsen Middle School
Lizabeth Diaz, Renton High School
Susan Dunfield, Hazen High School
Lori Dunn, Hazen High School*
Janet Fisher, Kennydale Elementary
Lorena Franco, Hazelwood Elementary
Leslie Gilbert, Hazen High School
Andrea Gollob, Highlands Elementary
Cindy Gose, Sierra Heights Elementary*
Carol Grimes, Black River High School
Steven Harris, Nelsen Middle School
Mike Henry, Nelsen Middle School
Sue Hoffman, Renton Christian School
Susan Johnson, Renton High School
Dave Kilburg, Hazen High School
Kimberly LaBorde, Lakeridge Elementary*
Elaine Love, Nelsen Middle School
Linda Lowell, McKnight Middle School
Ray McCabe, Hazen High School
Dr. Paul Muckerheide, Renton High School
Dennis Murphy, Renton High School
Kim Nemcik, Nelsen Middle School
Sheila O'Donnell, Sierra Heights Elementary
Christy O'Hearn, Nelsen Middle School
Patrice Perrault, Cascade Elementary
Cindy Pickens, Renton Park Elementary
Scheila Pikes, Benson Hill Elementary
Diane Rademacher, Nelsen Middle School
William Ramirez, Sierra Heights Elementary*
Michele Reace, Maplewood Heights Elementary
Esther Rich, Nelsen Middle School
Sabrina Richardson, Sierra Heights Elementary
Kirk Robbins, Renton Park Elementary
Sandy Sanford, McKnight Middle School
Nancy Schofield, Maplewood Heights Elementary
Bethany Schultz, Highlands Elementary
Lindy Snyder, Nelsen Middle School
Helen Thompson, McKnight Middle School
Jeff Willis, Dimmit Middle School
Kathy Wilson, Sierra Heights Elementary
Anne Zuckerman, Dimmitt Middle School*
Brad Zylstra, Nelsen Middle School

*Award Finalist