Renton School District science teacher Brian Teppner has been named Elementary Science Teacher of the Year by the Washington Science Teachers Association.

Teppner, who has taught in the Renton School District for 10 years, was selected based on his excitement and enthusiasm for teaching science, effective teaching methods and his promotion of science education beyond the classroom.

Teppner will receive his award at a state science conference this weekend.

“It’s a real honor,” Teppner said of the award. “Especially because its judged by your colleagues. That’s what makes it special to me. It’s science teachers making that statement that they appreciate the work that you do.”

A national-board certified teacher, this year Teppner is serving as a Science Teacher on Special Assignment. That makes him responsible for training district science teachers and leading professional development opportunities to improve classroom teaching and learning.

Midge Yergen, president of the Washington Science Teachers Association, said Teppner was selected for the honor because “he brings a love for learning to his students, inspires his colleagues and participates extensively in professional development opportunities to improve his own instruction.”

Last school year, the students in Teppner’s fourth-fifth-grade combined classroom at Sierra Heights Elementary School recorded impressive scores on all sections of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning:

• 100 percent of his students passed the reading assessment, including those in the English Language Learner program.

• 100 percent of his fifth-graders passed the math WASL.

• 100 percent of his fourth-graders passed the writing WASL; over half received perfect 12 of 12 scores.

• 100 percent of the fourth-graders in his “leveled math group” exceeded standard on the math WASL.

• 95 percent of his fifth-graders passed the science WASL.

Teppner said he didn’t use a secret tool to achieve these results. He says his class was simply filled with great kids who, as a team, took on the challenge to collaborate until they all moved forward together.

“This is less a story about the teacher and more a story about student success,” Teppner said. “I am very proud of all of these students. It is a group achievement but truly each child is an individual story and the story is not finished until each child reaches their full potential.”

Teppner says he misses working in the classroom this year, but he is grateful to be able to “affect learning in a larger population.”