Symetra Heroes in the Classroom Celebrates 10th Anniversary

With a new school year underway, Symetra and the Seattle Seahawks are once again looking for nominations for the Symetra Heroes in the Classroom teacher recognition program. Bellevue-based Symetra, a national provider of employee benefits, annuities and life insurance, and the Seattle Seahawks have honored 200 educators around King County since the program’s inception in 2006. During the 2015 NFL regular season—the program’s tenth anniversary—16 teachers will be selected as Symetra Heroes in the Classroom.

“The simple truth is that a high-quality education system begins with the person standing in front of students every day, gaining their trust, opening their minds and stimulating their curiosity about the world around them. I am proud of the work Symetra and the Seahawks have done together over the past ten years to honor accomplished educators and to support their students,” said Symetra CEO Tom Marra.

Teachers are recognized in front of their students and peers at surprise in-school presentations, and they receive a $1,000 donation for classroom books and supplies. In addition, they receive tickets to a Seahawks home game and are acknowledged during an on-field presentation at CenturyLink Field. Cherie McIntosh, a second-grade teacher at St. Louise School in Bellevue, and Michael Bailey, a Chemistry instructor at Juanita High School in Kirkland, are the first two Heroes honorees of the 2015 season and will attend the Seahawks’ first home game on Sept. 27 against the Chicago Bears.

“Symetra Heroes in the Classroom celebrates some of our most valued role models and community leaders — our teachers,” said Seahawks VP Community Relations Mike Flood. “We are proud to partner with Symetra to recognize the distinct impact and dedication that teachers demonstrate every day.”

The Symetra Heroes in the Classroom program has contributed more than $500,000 to King County schools since it began. The program started with Seattle Public Schools teachers and has expanded to include all King County schools. In 2014, seven school districts were represented by Symetra Heroes honorees, including Bellevue School District, Highline Public Schools, Issaquah School District, Lake Washington School District, Renton School District, Seattle Public Schools and Shoreline Public Schools.

“Community partnerships are vital to student achievement, and we appreciate the direct contribution of funds to support our work in classrooms,” said Superintendent Susan Enfield, Highline Public Schools. “Symetra Heroes in the Classroom is especially unique because it also provides much-deserved recognition for outstanding teachers. Celebrating these individuals — and the teaching profession — in front of more than 70,000 fans at each home game sends a strong statement about the value that Symetra, the Seahawks, and our community place on public education. I want to express our collective thanks to everyone involved.”

Teachers may be nominated by their principal, district staff, student or student’s parent. The winners are selected based on their ability to make a real difference in students’ lives; to go above and beyond in their day-to-day responsibilities; and to help students build life skills.

In addition to the $1,000 donation for classroom supplies, each of the 16 Puget Sound-area schools with a teacher/Hero is eligible to submit an ‘MVP Award’ proposal to be considered for a $10,000 grant to fund an innovative student achievement program. Nominated programs are evaluated on a range of criteria, including innovation, feasibility and demonstrated need.

More information about Symetra Heroes in the Classroom is available at www.SymetraHeroes.com/Seahawks. Follow the program on Faceback at www.Facebook.com/SeattleHeroesintheClassroom.

About Symetra
Symetra Financial Corporation (NYSE: SYA) is a diversified financial services company based in Bellevue, Wash. In business since 1957, Symetra provides employee benefits, annuities and life insurance through a national network of benefit consultants, financial institutions, and independent agents and advisors. For more information, visit www.symetra.com.

Symetra Heroes in the Classroom—2014 Teacher Roster
Erica Eller—East Hill Elementary School, Kent
Ellen Ferrin—Challenger Middle School, Issaquah
Elayne Grueber—Sammamish High School*, Bellevue
DeAira Handugan—Chief Sealth High School, West Seattle
John Herrold—Meridian Park Elementary, Renton
Michael King—Renton High School, Renton
Rathan Mahendran—Redmond Middle School, Redmond
Kjell Mattson—Puesta del Sol Elementary School, Bellevue
Emily Morgan—Ben Franklin Elementary School, Kirkland
Bill McMurray—Kellogg Middle School, Shoreline
Jonathan Moore—Denny International Middle School, West Seattle
Susan Muller—Medina Elementary School
Melissa Norman—Maywood Middle School, Renton
Tia Nguyen—Midway Elementary School, Des Moines
Molly Oosterhof—Dimmitt Middle School, Renton
Christopher Soethe—Hazel Valley Elementary School, Burien
*2014 $10,000 MVP Award grant winner: Sammamish High School—“Engineering Projects in the Community”