As part of their commitment to education, and to celebrate teachers in the Renton School District, each month members of Rotary Club of Renton selects a few teachers as Teacher of the Month.
February’s Teachers of the Month are:
Brighid Carlson
Kindergarten Teacher at Benson Hill Elementary School
Brighid Carlson began her college experience at Kansas State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education emphasis on special education. Before becoming a teacher in Renton, Carlson worked as a therapeutic teacher counselor and worked with students with emotional/behavioral disorders and taught at a therapeutic preschool for students affected by drug/alcohol abuse as well as development delays. She has also written curriculum for Therapeutic Playgroups for children who live in shelters. This year is Carlson’s third year teaching in Renton.
Jim Gold
Science, Math and CTE Teacher at Renton High School
Jim Gold attended the University of California, Santa Barbara where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering. He continued to earn a master’s in civil engineering from University of California, Berkley. Gold has also held a career as a civil engineer for eight years; three years for a consulting firm in Bellevue and five years as a Traffic Operations Engineer for a city in California. He taught middle and high school math in California for six years and he is now finishing up his 20th year teaching in Renton.
Kristen Hesselgesser
First Grade Teacher at Kennydale Elementary School
Kristen Hesselgesser earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Arizona State University then continued to earn a master’s in early childhood education from Northern Arizona University. Hesselgesser has also worked for Costco Wholesale where she held several positions including department supervisor, membership/marketing manager and merchandising department manager. Before teaching in Renton, she taught kindergarten and first grade in Arizona for four years. This is Hesselgesser’s second full year as a teacher in the Renton School District.
As part of the recognition, teachers attend Rotary’s Teacher of the Month recognition luncheon held at the Maplewood Golf Course. Each teacher is introduced, makes a brief comment about the school and classroom, and receives $200 to be used for classroom supplies or instructional materials.
