Five outstanding staff members honored as Q4 All-Star Award winners

There were tears, cheers, and laughter as Seattle Public Schools celebrated its Quarter 4 All-Star Award winners — five remarkable staff members honored as Most Valuable Educators in front of their students, colleagues, and families.  

Congratulations to Nathan Hale HS Social Studies & Physical Education Teacher!

Mike Renes 

Social Studies & Physical Education, Nathan Hale High School 

Mike Renes teaches social studies and physical education, but his impact reaches far beyond the classroom or the gym. He is the kind of educator who sees a need and takes action. 

In 2023, one of his students was left in critical condition after being underwater for five minutes at Green Lake. For Mr. Renes, the moment was also a call to act. He became certified to teach swimming, earned his CPR certification, and secured a grant to build a program for students who might never otherwise have the opportunity — many from immigrant families facing barriers to access.  

“As a physical education teacher, I strive to remind students that our minds and bodies are symbiotic creatures; they need each other to thrive — specifically with swimming,” he said. 

“We live in a city surrounded by water. I want to teach students the skills they need to enjoy these incredible surroundings and to stay safe.” 

This year, that work came full circle when he taught the younger brother of the student pulled from the lake. Because of Mr. Renes, that family now has peace of mind. 

During his five years with SPS, Mr. Renes has embodied what it means to see a gap and step up to close it — someone who refuses to accept the status quo and puts students’ safety and well-being first. 

The All-Star Awards recognize staff who embody SPS’s core values of Excellence, Teamwork, and Commitment. This quarter’s honorees were selected for going above and beyond the call of duty and building strong, meaningful relationships with students 

This year, thanks to a grant from Kaiser Permanente, every All-Star Award winner (Joanne Griesemer Bailey Gatzert Elementary, Mike Renes Nathan Hale HS, Sandra Mackey Cascadia Elementary, Christopher Robert Roxhill & Highland Park Elementary, and Amanda Simington Rainer View Elementary) received a swag bag filled with an insulated lunch cooler, tumbler, baseball cap, adult coloring set, stress ball, and other fun novelty items — a tiny token of appreciation for contributions that are anything but small. 

Read the complete list and information about all the recipients on the district website.