Local schools honored

Cascade Ridge Elementary School was named one of the Schools of Distinction by State Superintendent of Public Institution Terry Bergeson.

Cascade was one of 98 out of nearly 2,500 Washington schools to win the distinction, which was given for increasing student success.

Four Lake Washington schools were also honored with the distinction — Alcott, Mann Audubon and Thoreau Elementary schools.

To be considered for the award, each school had to exceed the state average performance in fourth-, seventh- or 10th-grade reading and math, as measured by the spring 2008 Washington Assessment of Student Learning.

Schools that met the average performance requirements were then evaluated for WASL performance during the last six years. Results in grades four, seven and 10 were evaluated because those are the only grade levels with six years of trend data. The top 5 percent of elementary, middle and high schools, as well as alternative schools, were given awards.

Liberty teacher wins award

Brian Hartman, a teacher at Liberty High School has been selected as the Sam’s Club Teacher of the Year.

Hartman was nominated at the Renton Sam’s Club by a community member who wrote that, “his extraordinary lead-by-example ways touches everyone that he comes in contact with. He makes you feel valued and important. The kids’ lives he impacts will soon in turn make a difference in the lives of others in their neighborhoods, communities, and cities … He rocks!”

Liberty High was awarded $1,000 for Hartman’s work with kids.