School Board celebrates 2022 Outstanding Employees
Renton School Board members celebrated this year’s School Board Outstanding Employee Award winners at their March 9 meeting. The Board has presented the awards for more than 45 years to recognize staff who demonstrate an outstanding level of job performance, support of students, professionalism, and dedication.
Staff are celebrated in four categories:
Outstanding Elementary Teacher
Outstanding Secondary Teacher
Outstanding School Support Person
Outstanding District Support Person
A selection committee made up of School Board members, last year's recipients, and others evaluated this year's nominees submitted by parents, students, and staff members.
Cheryl goes far above and beyond for all students and staff at Sartori. She organizes the before- and after-school clubs for students, ensuring a wide variety of interests are available, and establishing a scholarship fund to remove barriers for students to participate in activities. She has purchased more accessible PE equipment to ensure the inclusion of students in wheelchairs. She supported the creation and implementation of a school wide “jobs” program, a buddy class where student leaders come to her class to support younger students. She organizes weekly staff health events like yoga and volleyball. And she partnered with Seattle’s new professional hockey franchise, the Kraken, to get floor hockey equipment and lessons for students across the district. Cheryl works closely with the school’s PTA to create schoolwide events like field days that bring students, families, and staff together. She continually examines her practices and curriculum to be inclusive and leads with an equity lens to ensure all students have equal access to high-quality education.
Keith Peck, Computer Science Teacher, Hazen High School
Keith presents a complicated, complex subject, computer science, to his students in very familiar, relatable terms. His passion for his work and his desire to see students achieve is evident to his students as he challenges them to learn at a high level and pursue their interests in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Keith’s workload is full as a teacher of computer programming 1 and 2, AP Computer Science, and advisor for both the school’s Hack and Robotics clubs. He even works to expand STEM offerings at Hazen High including providing several new classes in networking, independent study, and cyber security. Keith is an incredible advocate for female participation in STEM fields and encourages, guides, and supports girls in his class to become involved in the male-dominated field.
As stated by one of those students, Lydia Sorbo, who nominated Keith for this Board award, “Mr. Peck’s work has accelerated the achievement of many students, including myself, at Hazen because he takes the time to assist students through the coursework. He strives to help students explore their interests in STEM, no matter how challenging the concepts. Among all of Mr. Peck’s significant contributions to improve the achievement of students, his eagerness, passion, and commitment to doing so, highlights the best of his character.”
Carla Smith, Teacher Academy Program, District high schools
Carla is committed to seeing our district’s teacher workforce grow to include more teachers of color. For more than 14 years, she has committed herself to continuing to improve the Teacher Academy program, a program to recruit high school students to become teachers. Carla has developed and expanded the program to be available at all four district high schools making the possibility of becoming a teacher an equitable and accessible reality for 50 to 60 students each year: nearly 400 students over the 14 years of the program. She’s worked over the years to expand college credits for students in the program through Highline College, Green River College, Central Washington University, and Western Washington University. And, she’s even worked to provide paid internships for students in the program. She works with the district’s HR department to assist in hiring students who have completed the program, earned their college degrees and teaching credentials.
Through Carla’s dedication, more than 24 district high school students have completed the Teacher Academy program and are now fully accredited teachers and paraeducators in local school districts: 15 returned and are now teaching in schools throughout our district.
Watch this video to learn more about the Renton Teacher Academy program.
Allyse takes a proactive, compassionate, and equitable approach to her work as she supports students and families at Talley High. She prioritizes ensuring that all students and families have information and resources necessary to enroll and engage in the many programs offered at Talley High including Virtual Program, Adult Transition Program, and in-person learning. Along with her work to assist with the school enrollment process for transfers and new enrollments, Allyse also proactively seeks to understand individual needs to personally connect students and families with school resources like technology and in-home WiFi if needed, and community resources like access to translation services, housing/shelter support resources, physical and mental health resources, coordinating positive intervention systems to support academic progress, and more. Because Allyse addresses the basic needs of our students, our families know that they are cared for and our students are more likely to show up, ask for help when needed, and remain engaged in their learning.
Kayla is a highly capable, dedicated staff member who excels in her many roles and responsibilities that divide her workload in both the Superintendent and Community Relations offices. Her many designated duties include organizing workflow and departmental projects, preparing district policies for the School Board, establishing and assuring timely distribution and receipt of a variety of public/internal records and reports, and quickly and knowledgably responding to email and phone call concerns, complaints, and misinformation from family and community members. But Kayla’s true strength and value comes in her work ethic and commitment to the district’s larger mission of service. Each day—going well beyond her assigned job description and responsibilities—she finds opportunities to help our principals, office managers, and other school staff be successful at using software, communication tools, and applications that help them better connect with their families and staff. She doesn’t allow these additional responsibilities to interfere with her prescribed job duties; instead, she seamlessly incorporates this level of service into her daily workflow. Kayla’s works directly benefits and enhances the work of our staff from every school across the district: teachers, support staff, office managers, principals, and others. And her ability and commitment to assist families and community members helps create in them a sense of trust and pride in their local school system.
