Auburn School District No. 408
915 4th Street Northeast, Auburn, WA  98002

4/29/08

NEWS RELEASE
Auburn School District's Board of Directors Honors
Staff Member Beth Raines

The Auburn School District Board of Directors recognized Beth Raines, third grade teacher at Dick Scobee Elementary School, for her outstanding service on Monday, April 28, at 7 p.m. in the board room at the James P. Fugate Administration Building.

Beth Raines, third grade teacher at Dick Scobee Elementary School, is approaching her twentieth year of teaching at Dick Scobee. “The reason I’ve been here for so long is because of the staff and administrators. Everyone has a great sense of humor, and we value and respect each other so much. I guess we’re not just coworkers but friends, too. Almost every day there is something funny or unique that happens and that’s why I love this job; it’s never boring,” smiles Beth.

Beth not only has strong ties to her school, but to the Auburn community as well. Her great grandparents settled in the Auburn area and her great grandfather was on the very first Auburn School Board. Beth’s parents were educators—her mother a teacher and her father an administrator. Beth grew up in Burien, but attended Auburn High School when her father became the assistant principal at Olympic Middle School and then principal at West Auburn High School. Beth knew early in life that she wanted to pursue teaching. “My mom was my fifth grade teacher, which I didn’t like very much, but my sixth grade teacher inspired me to pursue teaching,” says Beth. “It was great when I had the opportunity to go back and thank her.”

Beth approaches her teaching with an attitude of more is better. “We provide so much  more than educating kids; sometimes we’re called mom or dad by accident because the students see us every day, and school is a place where many children find stability,” remarks Beth. “I’ve always said, ‘Once you’ve been my student, you’re always my student.’” In fact, during Beth’s first year at Dick Scobee, one of her former first grade students returned to student teach in Beth’s classroom. “She told me I made the most difference in her life and it was my class where she decided she wanted to become a teacher,” says Beth. Another former student invited Beth to his wedding. “When students come back and say I really was important to them, it reaffirms what I’m doing professionally,” says Beth.

As a third grade teacher, Beth teaches all subjects. “From reviewing WASL stem questions to teaching students how to eat healthy, there is never a dull moment,” smiles Beth. Recently Dick Scobee kicked off a healthy eating program in conjunction with the Washington State University Food Sense Program. The program teaches students how to cook and eat healthy. Beth’s students made spring rolls from scratch one week. “The kids are so proud of themselves after they’ve done all the prep and cooking. A lot of students will try vegetables and other foods they may not otherwise try because they’ve created the meals themselves,” says Beth.

Beth is a firm believer in parent involvement and believes she can better understand a child’s learning needs and personality if she knows where the child is coming from at home. Beth meets one-on-one with parents to gather input; requires parents to sign weekly student assignment sheets; organizes a third grade family parent night during the first week of school; issues regular progress reports; corresponds with parents via phone and e-mail; hosts ice cream socials; and sends home class newsletters. According to Beth, “Parents need to be involved in their child’s education. Sometimes educating the parents on how to work with their kids at home is just as important as educating the students in the classroom.”

Over the years, Beth has committed herself to lifelong learning. She has participated on multiple district committees, including a Substitute Committee, which she is currently serving on. Beth knows that continuing her education will only better her students’ education. Recently Beth shared new math skills with her class that she learned at a local math conference. “When I share with the kids that I try something new, I think it makes it easier for them to try new things,” says Beth. “It’s important that they know I am still learning.”

Beth’s students probably also like the fact that their teacher is a huge sports fan. Beth has coached fifth and sixth grade boys’ basketball and girls’ volleyball. It’s hard to miss the life-size poster of Philadelphia Eagle’s standout Donovan McNabb in her room—a gift from one of her student’s parents. Beth is a football fanatic. When she was little her dad took her to games and she would run around in a football helmet despite the fact that her parents dressed her up as a cheerleader. Her love of the game continued and she played flag football in college for a year. She even tried out for a local professional women’s football team, the Tacoma Majestics. “It was the greatest thing ever—full pads, full tackle. I trained hard and signed up but got injured before the first game, so I had to give it up,” says Beth.

Beth holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Seattle Pacific University and a master’s degree in multidisciplinary education from Lesley College. She is a devoted mom to two boys, an eighth grader and third grader, and her husband is a US Army Airborne Ranger. In her spare time, Beth and her family are most likely on Whidbey Island spending time with her parents and sister. If she could teach on a beach, she probably would—“I love to do anything on or near the saltwater,” smiles Beth.

For more information contact Amy Spence, public information officer, at 253-931-4713.