Meridian Park Teacher Named Seahawks/Symetra "Hero in the Classroom"

Tracy Andersen, third grade teacher at Meridian Park School, will be honored as the Dec. 1 Shoreline School District recipient of the Heroes in the Classroom award sponsored by the Seattle Seahawks and Symetra Financial.

Andersen was surprised with the award at a ceremony in the library at Meridian Park.

Symetra Heroes in the Classroom is a community program that recognizes Shoreline, Renton and Seattle teachers for outstanding leadership and instructional skills during the Seattle Seahawks season. Andersen is the seventh Shoreline teacher to be honored this season, joining Jennifer Etter (Shorecrest), Therese Russell (Brookside), Anne Marie Culver (Kellogg), Ali Airhart (Syre), Diana Dillard (Shorewood) and Kay Law (Ridgecrest).

Andersen is in her fourth year at Meridian Park and previously taught in the Renton and Highline School Districts. She will be recognized at the Seahawks home game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night and will receive a team jacket, two tickets to the game and on-field passes, and a $350 Office Max gift card for classroom supplies.

Andersen was nominated by a colleague, who wrote in part: “Students come to Ms. Andersen with all levels of need and somehow, in her magic kingdom, she manages to meet the unique needs of so many. Her lessons have clear purpose and are always focused on an academic standard and core learning need. Her lessons are lively, students are engaged and constantly pushed to participate and voice their ideas. Tracy’s students thrive because she believes in them and keeps the bar high.”
 
In addition to the awards before each home game, Symetra and the Seahawks will make a $10,000 donation to three participating schools following the 2011 season. Funds will be designated to support a specific student achievement program at each school.
 
For more information, visit the Seattle Seahawks/Symetra Heroes in the Classroom Web site,http://www.symetra.com/heroes/seahawks/

Source: Shoreline School District and Symetra.