Mercer Island School District names three Teachers of the Year

Kerida Millison, Julie Riccio and Sally Bartow are Mercer Island’s 2011 Teachers of the Year.

Superintendent Gary Plano announced the trio of educators chosen for the honor at the event on April 26. The teachers received engraved crystal apples and later attended a dinner hosted by the where they received further recognition and a $500 personal check.

“I am very proud and honored to work with these outstanding educators,” said Plano. 

The secondary teachers were nominated by their colleagues and selected by their principals. At the elementary level, the three principals, along with Kathy Morrison, Director of Elementary Learning Support, talked about who would be the best candidate and made the final selection. Aside from being outstanding educators, the teachers had to demonstrate their commitment to professional growth, community involvement and strengthening the teaching profession. The district's nominees will go on to the state competition for Teacher of the Year for 2012.

The following are brief biographies, provided by the MISD, of each of Mercer Island's 2011 Teacher of the Year award recipients:

Kerida Millison came to in 1989 and has taught almost every elementary grade level over the course of her 22-year teaching career. She has been teaching 5th grade since 2002 and is highly respected among students, teachers and parents for her commitment to helping all of her students find their unique gifts and strengths as learners. According to Island Park principal Nancy Loorem, “Kerida exhibits that perfect balance of deep care and knowledge of her students as unique individuals while holding them all to high standards. She is a leader in curriculum and program development who has influenced teaching and learning across our district. Kerida is highly respected because she is so thoughtful, asks the tough questions, and is progressive when she knows that change in her practice will make a real difference for student learning. She is a constructive leader who helps bring about positive change.”

Julie Riccio is a lead Special Education teacher at where she instructs students with moderate to severe intellectual/physical disabilities. Her classroom is a warm and welcoming environment where students are encouraged to “grow into the mature, confident individuals they deserve to be.” Co-principals Mary Jo Budzius and Aaron Miller agree that Julie Riccio “has incredible dedication to each one of her students and their growth. According to Aaron Miller, “Julie will always go the extra mile to help her students succeed,” and Mary Jo Budzius said that, “Julie is one of the most amazing teachers I have ever had the opportunity to work with and learn from. She oozes caring and compassion for students and is a natural leader with the staff. She reminds us all the time that we are here for the students and that we need to keep them as the center of every decision we make!”

Sally Bartow came to the Mercer Island School District in 2002 and teaches both special education and general education courses at . Sally devotes her energy to developing healthy relationships with colleagues, students and families, participating in the in the school community and having fun every day. She enjoys the process of getting to know a student, evaluating his or her current skills and designing a program based on those skills. According toPrincipal John Harrison, Sally Bartow has a wonderful gift of intuitive responsiveness,” and Mark Roschy, Associate Principal said, “Sally is grounded, introspective very intelligent and has a brilliant sense of humor. She always models best practice and is willing to support any staff member to better support any student. She has the uncanny ability to meet each of her students where they are, both emotionally and academically.”