• Heather Wren teaches at Federal Way High School. Wren co-founded the Academic Success Academy in 2008.
This program offers students in need of credit retrieval an innovative and challenging way to earn their high school diploma. Since its inception, the program has helped more than 190 high school students earn their diplomas.
Because of her dedication to her students, KIRO Radio and Washington State Employees Credit Union have honored Wren as a Hometown Hero and awarded her with $2,000.
• Thomas Jefferson High School student Ellie Kim was selected to represent her school in the All-State Symphony Orchestra in Yakima during the midwinter break weekend. She played along with the best string players in the state for two days of rehearsals working with some of the leading music teachers in the state and the nation.
• P.E. teacher Teri Galloway incorporates technology in teaching physical education to our 21st century learners at Decatur High School. Galloway’s innovative use of tech tools is featured in a video created by our district. OSPI shared the video, and reached the CDC, SHAPE America and other organizations dedicated to public health, gaining attention on a national scale.
• Truman Campus students such as Samantha Bartlett can learn how to identify a career path, start a business and develop an entrepreneurial mindset through a new course called entrepreneurialship. Community partnerships, real world experiences and presentations from area business leaders help guide students to career paths. Students have visited Seattle Children’s Theater to learn about production and costume design, and Academy of Interactive Entertainment to learn about video game designing. At Dillano’s Coffee, headquartered in the Sumner valley, they learned how two local businessmen turned one coffee stand into a multimillion dollar coffee roasting business.
As a 10th grade student, Samantha is actively pursuing her career path and her interests through this course with opportunities to gain soft skills, attend informational interviews and have an insider look at the work world.
Austin Brown of Todd Beamer High School has been selected as a recipient of the Washington CTE Student Success Award. Brown is one of only 18 recipients of the award in our state. In addition to the CTE Student Success Award, Brown will be nominated on behalf of our state for the US Presidential Scholars award.
If selected, Brown will be expected to join other Presidential Scholars in a National Recognition Program to be held June 19-21.
