Pam Teal was appointed Wednesday night by the Renton School Board to fill a seat vacated by Marcie Maxwell in December.

Maxwell is now state representative in the 41st Legislative District.

Teal will serve as director for District No. 5, which encompasses the northern section of the school district. She was chosen from a pool of three candidates and will be sworn into office at the Feb. 11 board meeting.

Teal has worked with the district in various capacities for more than 12 years. Her two sons have both attended Renton schools. Michael graduated last year from Hazen High School; Nick is in his junior year at Hazen.

Teal says she applied for the position to be a larger part of the district’s successes.

“Over the years, I have grown from a ‘cookies and punch parent’ to an individual who participates and understands the larger picture,” Teal said in a press release. “I’ve been increasingly involved in the collaborative effort between governing agencies, businesses, administrators, staff, parents, and our communities, which is vital to the success of all of our students.”

Teal is chair of the Renton Chamber of Commerce’s Education Committee, legislative representative for the Renton PTSA Council, and serves on boards for Communities in Schools of Renton and the Renton Community Foundation.

She was also the president of the Renton PTSA Council, and served on the district’s Boundary Review committee. Teal has been a prominent member of the Citizens for Renton Schools organization working to pass school bond and levy campaigns.

“The Renton School district has great students, teachers and staff, and fabulous, supportive communities,” Teal added. “I am extremely excited and honored to serve on the Renton School Board to continue the focus on high student achievement.”