Thursday, March 28, 2024

Certificated and Classified Employees of the Year

Posted

Cascade School District is pleased to announce the Certificated and Classified Employees of the Year. The Excellence in Education Awards began in 1985 by the North Central Educational Service District and is a recognition program to honor, recognize and say “thank you” in a formal manner to extraordinary, dedicated certificated and classified individuals who give daily and unselfishly to the students in our schools.

Micah Rieke, the Certificated Employee of the Year, is the Physical Education (PE) Teacher at Icicle River Middle School (IRMS). Micah is a lifelong Cascade Kodiak and resident of Leavenworth. He was the salutatorian of CHS’ Class of 1998. After high school graduation, Micah attended Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) where he played basketball and majored in education. He graduated from PLU magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in education with endorsements in social studies and math. His first teaching job was at Burlington-Edison High School where he taught math and was an assistant to legendary basketball coach Rick Skeen. After his first year in education, he decided to attend Eastern Washington University (EWU) to pursue a master’s degree in sports psychology and a teaching endorsement in health and fitness. While at Eastern, he spent two years as a graduate assistant coach for the EWU men’s basketball team.

His next position was at Meridian High School in Bellingham where he taught math and coached basketball. His first head coaching and PE job was at Cedarcrest High School in Duvall. During Micah’s 4-year tenure as head coach, he led the Red Wolves to their first state basketball appearance in 54 years! When a teaching position opened at IRMS, Micah knew it was time to return home. He has been the PE teacher at IRMS since 2012. He enjoys all the outdoor adventuring that Leavenworth has to offer while raising his two daughters in his hometown. Teaching PE in Leavenworth brings great joy to him because of the variety of physical activities he can introduce to students in such a beautiful area. Micah can now be found coaching girls AAU basketball and cheering on the Kodiaks from the announcing booth and the stands. He loves this community and truly believes ‘Once a Kodiak, always a Kodiak’!

Renée Moore, the Classified Employee of the Year, is a Paraeducator at Alpine Lakes Elementary School. Renée worked in Sultan School District from 2000-2018 and has been working in Cascade School District since. She is retiring at the end of this school year. Renée’s goal has always been to provide support to all students. Watching students learn and grow makes her job rewarding. Renée brings strengths of dedication, creativity, and the ability to adapt to various situations to her role of paraeducator. Over her years in education, she has worked in a multitude of programs, including preschool, a classroom focused on students with autism, and resource room. Renée has been married to her husband for 35 years. They have two sons, one daughter-in-law, and a 5-year-old rescue dog Gracie who loves to hike, camp, and go for Jeep rides. Renée loves spending time with family and friends. Dr. Kenny Renner-Singer, Principal of Alpine Lakes Elementary School, says that “Renée Moore is one of the more skilled paraeducators in building relationships with students and staff. Her passion and love of the job is infectious.”

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here