Eleven Renton School District teachers were honored recently at the Excellence in Education Ahead of the Class awards ceremony.

Receiving the awards were five individual teachers and a team of teachers from Dimmitt Middle School. The awards are sponsored by the Renton Chamber of Commerce.

This year’s winners are:

• Terrance Carlisle, kindergarten, Lakeridge Elementary School

• Jennifer Meyer, 11th grade social studies AP U.S. history/dance, Renton High School

• Todd Pollard, 10th grade biology, Hazen High School

• Brian Teppner, fourth- and fifth-grade combination, Sierra Heights Elementary School.

• Josh Viles, grades 9 through 12 choral music, Hazen High School

• The sixth-grade language arts/social studies team at Dimmitt Middle School: Heidi Riegsecker, Jordin Baugh, Brian Holler, Genisha Wea, Leslie Wade and Tim Bell

Each individual or team of teachers, who demonstrate high standards of professionalism in education, received a $500 cash award.

Teachers throughout the Renton area were nominated as either individuals or as part of a team. Two committees, consisting of community and business leaders, reviewed applications and conducted personal interviews with the teachers to select this year’s winners.

The selection criteria for naming the award winners are based on national standards for teaching.