Director Pam Teal announces RSD board departure, district looking to fill vacancy

Renton School Board Director Pam Teal has served on the board since 2009

November 25, 2020 1:30 am
Long time board member Pam Teal with a child at Meadow Crest Early Learning Center, 2018. Courtesy photo.
Long time board member Pam Teal with a child at Meadow Crest Early Learning Center, 2018. Courtesy photo.

After 12 years as a Renton School District Board Director, Pam Teal has announced she will be leaving the position at the end of 2020.

Teal has been a avid supporter of Renton schools with her work on the board as well as the Renton Schools Foundation, which she said she will remain an active member of.

This also means the school district is now looking for someone to fill the board position for the remaining nine months. The position encompasses district five, the north portion of the district boundary. When the appointed position ends in November 2021, the appointee can campaign to be elected to the position. Applicants must live in the Fifth district boundary, be registered to vote within the boundary and be a U.S. citizen.

Teal’s years with Renton Schools

Teal started her involvement at Renton schools as a classroom volunteer, 25 years ago, before becoming a board member in 2009. She said in a press release that the decision to leave the term early was to devote more time to her family and two grandkids, but she will still be involved in Renton’s community and its schools.

“Despite the worldwide pandemic, leadership of the Renton School District under Dr. Damien Pattenaude and the current Renton School Board of Directors is stronger than ever,” Teal stated in the release. “It has been an honor to serve with them, as well as former board members who have left for their own new chapters. I have learned from each one of them; I respect their voices and their passion for the Renton community, families, staff and students.”

Superintendent Pattenaude also stated in the district’s release that Teal’s impact and work will leave a legacy well into the future for the district.

Teal also listed a number of highlights from her time as a board director in the press release, which included handing her son his diploma in 2009; seeing the building of Risdon Middle School named after Renton educator Vera Risdon, the STEM-focused Sartori Elementary School and Meadow Crest Early Learning Center; as well as watching technology access and curriculum change over that time.

“Thank you for the opportunity to serve you in my school board role,” Teal stated. “I look forward to watching the education system grow and continue to evolve. It’s been a great 12 years.”

Applications for board position due Jan. 4, 2021

Those interested in the District Five board seat must submit the following in their application packet, which can be submitted by email at sandra.dolph@rentonschools.us or mailed to Renton School Board Vacancy, Attn: Sandy Dolph, 300 SW 7th St, Renton WA 98057:

Interviews are planned to be conducted online Jan. 11 or 12, according to the district’s release. The full release on Teal’s departure is available here.