Jeannine Ewing, teacher, Redmond High School
Kudos to Jeannine Ewing, Lake Washington School District’s “Staff Star” for May 2012.
Jeannine Ewing has spent her entire teaching career at Redmond High School. She began teaching in the physical education department, as well as coaching girls’ softball and basketball. She enjoyed 10 years of coaching varsity athletics and state championship teams. In her 26 years at RHS, she has held administrative positions 
as well, serving as the school’s athletic director for a few years. Her love for direct student interactions led her back to the classroom. In the last several years, she has taught a health curriculum enjoyed by students, as well as a course entitled, “Health and Social Responsibility.”
Jeannine loves teaching health because it’s all about the students. She teaches the kids coping skills, how to handle stress and an understanding of what it takes to be maintain balance. The curriculum is extensive, raising awareness over many health topics including mental health, nutrition, comprehensive sexual education, and bullying, to name a few. Students are very involved in the teaching process, including each leading the class in their own chosen health topic, such as diabetes or Alzheimer’s disease, using the latest computer and multi-media technology. In addition, each student completes their own family health history, many times leading to great family discussions between different generations, gaining a valuable awareness of diseases to which they may be susceptible.
One of her colleagues said this about Jeannine. “She addresses tough issues in her health classes and creates an atmosphere of open communication and equality. Students often drop in to discuss personal issues with her.”
“Health and Social Responsibility” is a popular elective course also taught by Jeannine. Students are trained in tutoring and assisting in an elementary class setting. They are then assigned a teacher at a local elementary school, where they become an active assistant each day for one semester. Jeannine comments, “The personal growth seen in so many students taking this class is unmatched, especially in terms of commitment, reliability and self- confidence.”
Her favorite part of the job is being around the students. “High school kids are passionate and optimistic about the future. I learn something new from them every day.”
Jeannine’s co-workers nominated her as a Staff Star because “Jeannine fits the district’s vision of ‘Every Student Future Ready’ in the way that she engages with students on a personal level, helps them with their questions and problems and makes them feel better about themselves no matter what their goals and abilities may be.”
Jeannine grew up in Kirkland, graduating from Lake Washington High School in 1977. She completed her undergraduate degree at Western Washington University, where she majored in physical education with minors in health and psychology. She returned to WWU later in her career, obtaining a M.A. in education.