Each individual or team of 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 70 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 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. The Award ceremony is free to the
public thanks to this year's Ahead of the Class sponsors.
Presenting
Sponsor: Foresters
Corporate Sponsors: The Advanced
Mortgage Group, King & Bunnys Appliances, The
Lakeshore Retirement Community, Marcie Maxwell - Windermere
Realtor, McLendon Hardware, and Wizards of the Coast;
Reception Sponsors: Popeye’s
Chicken & Biscuits and Renton
School District;
Entertainment Sponsors: Alcan Building
Maintenance and Renton Education Association;
Video Sponsor:
Puget Sound Access - Channel 77; and thanks to the Renton School
District and Cat’s Eye Group Design and Photography.
To RSVP or for more information, call the Chamber at 425-226-4560
or e-mail info@GoRenton.com.
2006 Ahead of the Class Award Winners Information
Brian Hoskins: Vocal Music, Nelsen Middle School
Hoskins has taught vocal music to Nelsen middle schoolers since
1999, and recently completed his master’s degree in music
education from New York University. This year Hoskins is challenging
his students to premiere newly composed music in a community
concert. According to Hoskins, “not only do they get
to meet and learn form the composer of the music himself, but
they also get to perform with the composer, accompanied by
local music professionals, in a concert that is being reviewed
by national publications and media.”
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Jef Rettmann, U.S. History, Lindbergh High School
For over a decade, Rettmann has been teaching History at Lindbergh
High School, engaging 11th grade students to get involved
in the curriculum. He makes contemporary connections to issues
studied in the classroom, and students benefit by gaining
an understanding of themes such as individual rights vs.
the good of the community, and racial freedom and equality
and self segregation. Rettmann has also used the historical
documents of his student’s families in his classroom,
making direct connections between history and his students.
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Gary Sampson, 1st Grade, Maplewood Heights Elementary School
Gary Sampson recently spearheaded a project to bring school
supplies and information to a local Spanish-speaking community
in the form of an Escuelita, or little school that took place
a week before the beginning of the school year. For four
mornings about 35 students from grade K-5 participated in
reading, math and arts activities, and parents received information
about the school year. Additionally students received gift
books and school supplies. These special students started
the year on the right foot because this program.
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Meghan Scheck, English, Renton High School
While teaching 9th graders Romeo and Juliet, Scheck engaged
all sectors of her class by allowing her students to set
goals for themselves, and then come up with unique projects
to achieve them. Some of the activities they came up with
were acting out scenes, creating set designs and costumes,
making a soundtrack to a scene, drawing anime-style illustrations
of the action, and learning stage combat. These innovative
projects allow students to approach learning in their own
ways, and connect to the material.
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Adrienne DeBlasio and Jane Hasson, Special Education, Benson
Hill Elementary School
DeBlasio and Hasson work together to create learning opportunities
for their special needs students. Often this means altering
lessons from the general education science curriculum to meet
the needs of the students. One such lesson was in the Science
Unit, in which students analyzed ink to see if it is really
the color they think it is. By allowing students to demonstrate
their understanding in three ways (drawing a picture, dictation,
or using the white board), the two teachers address the multi-learning
needs of the students, and give students the opportunity to
make choices.
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Geof Newing and Larry Richter, Robotics, Lindbergh High School
Newing and Richter have grown the high school Robotics program
and are regularly sought after to help other schools start
their own programs. They send students to other high schools,
as well as middle and elementary schools to demonstrate their
skills and projects, and generate interest in the program.
They have also presented the program at a number of state
education conferences. The result is that the most recent
State Robotics Competition attracted 14 high schools and
350 students, a great success.
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Ellen Barrett, Misty Brewder,
Rachelle Cope, Lauri DeWhitt, Shelly Graham, Ekaterina
Terechina and Ginney To, English as a Second Language – Elementary
level, district-wide
The seven English as a Second Language teachers work tirelessly
to teach their students
English so that they can join the standard classes at their
grade level. Their work last year allowed more ESL students
to exit to standard classes in one year than the previous
three years combined. Additionally, the teachers are teaching
ESL student’s parents English at night. They have set
up a program for parent classes that help adults learn basic
English, job search skills, and what to say when calling
school. This program is key, as it allows students to practice
English at home as well as at school.
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