Opstad Elementary Teacher honored as a ‘Hero in the Classroom’

The Snoqualmie Valley School District recently announced that Opstad Elementary School Coding Teacher, Chris Harting, was honored by Symetra and the Seattle Seahawks as a Hero in the Classroom. The honor came with a special school assembly on December 3, 2019 a check for $2,000 and some Seahawks swag.

Parent Lisa Graham nominated Harting for the award. She said:

“Chris Harting is an inspiring teacher that brings fun and excitement into each and every class. He has embraced Opstad’s new specialist class of coding, which is just entering its second year at our school, and created a wonderful learning environment…Most recently a third-grade teacher, Chris has crafted the coding class from the ground up. He continues to drive our school forward with this new learning curriculum, inspiring and engaging his students in different ways. For example, you will never go a day without seeing Chris make his kids laugh. It’s just one reason his students have fun in the classroom and look forward to their time there.”

According to the district announcement, Harting is one of 16 teachers selected from K-12 schools throughout the Puget Sound area who was honored for educational excellence in the Symetra Heroes in the Classroom^® program during the 2019 NFL season.

Each honoree is recognized in front of their students and peers at a surprise in-school presentation, and awarded a $2,000 donation from Symetra for classroom materials.

Teachers also receive a custom NFL jersey and tickets to a Seahawks home game, where they get to enjoy a pre-game sideline experience and are then acknowledged during an on-field presentation at CenturyLink Field.

Harting (and other honorees) will be on the CenturyLink jumbotron during the second quarter of the Seahawks December 22nd game against Arizona Cardinals.

Congrats Mr. Harting!