Stephanie Bolinger, a math intervention specialist and response to intervention (RTI) coordinator, at Martin Sortun Elementary School has been selected as Kent School District’s 2015 Teacher of the Year.

Interim Superintendent Tony Apostle and other district leaders made a surprise visit to Martin Sortun before classes began last Tuesday morning to announce the honor.

Bolinger has worked at the school for the past 14 years, first as a third grade teacher, then teaching grades six and four, and English language learners before becoming the school’s math intervention specialist in 2009. In 2012, she added the role of response to intervention coordinator to her duties, coordinating instructional interventions for students who are struggling for various reasons in reading, writing, or math.

“Stephanie provides visionary leadership and serves as an inspiration to her colleagues,” said Principal Gregory Kroll.            “She finds energy and satisfaction helping others deliver the highest quality instruction, and her reforms have been critical in enhancing students’ performance school-wide.”

In her role as the RTI coordinator and math intervention specialist, she has led in data-driven instruction reforms that resulted in a nearly 40 percent increase in math scores at Martin Sortun. She also serves as a leader among the instructional staff, facilitating teacher collaboration, supervising paraeducators, and leading the way as a change coach in education reform.

The nomination process for Teacher of the Year begins with each school electing a teacher, nominated by their peers. The nominees then apply for the KSD title in a process that includes writing an essay on their teaching philosophy and letters of recommendation from their principal and a parent.

Bolinger’s selection as the Teacher of the Year means she is a candidate for regional teacher of the year within the Puget Sound Educational Service District, which serves 35 public school districts. The regional teacher of the year recipients then become candidates for the 2015 Washington State Teacher of the Year, which is announced in the fall.

Bolinger is a graduate of Kentridge High School, and she attended Meridian Junior High (now Meridian Middle School), and Soos Creek, Panther Lake, and Fairwood elementary schools.

“I was a ‘Kent kid’ and my dream was to give back to KSD,” Bolinger said. “That is exactly what I have the honor of doing.”