Laura Handy of Bethel Junior High School works with students who struggle with reading and have not been able to pass the WASL, and the grateful parents who have such a hard time “coming to terms with a struggling student.” One parent said her “eyes fill up with tears every time I think of Laura Handy and the impact she has had on my son.” Recently, the boy had lost his 11-year-old cousin after a four year battle with cancer. Laura Handy was the first to notice that he had replaced his skateboard pictures on his notebook cover with pictures of his cousin. “She called me and said she would be an advocate at school” for the grieving boy, including giving him a beautiful framed picture of his cousin with inspirational poem. Tasha Schroeder is a foreign language teacher at Renton’s Hazen High School who had a huge impact on one young student. This student said that “it’s hard enough trying to teach students how to speak another language when they haven’t even mastered their primary language.” This teacher “inspires me to stay true to myself and try my best at school, and in every aspect of my life. I recently had a conversation with Ms. Schroeder and she told me that I could go to college because I was smart. I am used to hearing people say that the only way that I’m going to college was if I receive a sports scholarship. But it was Ms. Schroeder who showed me that I am smart and I could do anything if I just apply myself and believe in myself.” Malinda Shirley, math teacher at Tahoma High School, “loves math and loves to teach any and all that come through her door. Not only does she give of her time for the children in her regular classes, she also donates her time for a Math Club.” She gives up weekends to take kids to a math competition or to other schools to help other kids prepare for SAT’s and WASL. One parent noted that Malinda Shirley is changing many lives for the better and “many days when I drive by the school well after 6:00 p.m. she is still in her classroom helping both the kids who struggle and those that want extra challenges.” Bradley Smith is the orchestra teacher at Eckstein Middle School and is being honored for the “motivation and enthusiasm he is able to get out of his students.” One student was “ready to quit violin until she became part of the 6th grade orchestra. All of the sudden she was practicing without being asked. She is now a 10th grader and is playing both the violin and viola and loving every minute.” The Senior Orchestra recently received First Place in a Gresham, Oregon, music competition, “scoring a perfect 100, something never done before.” Parents are “amazed at the music repertoire these students are able to play.” For Mr. Smith “it is not about winning, but it is about preparing and doing your best.” Terry Steiner, a 5th grade teacher at Dieringer Elementary School, is honored for his “low-key encouraging approach to challenging his students to achieve their best – academically, socially and athletically.” With more than 25 years of classroom experience, he has “turned countless students from hating writing to enjoying it and realizing they are good at it!” He dedicates his lunches to playing intramural sports on the field with the kids. He “encourages girls to be active on the football field and reaches those who are physically or health-challenged, by making them referees or assistant coaches.” Terry Steiner has started a book club, runs the school newspaper, and “motivates all who know him to be a better person and to give more of themselves.” Eric Stokely, math/science teacher at Bellarmine Preparatory School has used a love of robotics to guide, encourage and energize his high school students. Eric serves as advisor to the BP Robotics Team and can be found at FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) programs and events. “Eric has grown the enthusiasm for robotics to other Tacoma area schools. He and his team serve as mentors for other schools. This year Eric and his team ran a no cost week-long summer camp for youths in the area.” When a school administrator asked Eric how his team was doing at a regional event, he “pointed to the team saying ‘those are the winners, they are here, engaged, having fun, helping other teams and empowered, that is what makes them all winners.’”

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