The following is a release from the office of Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe:

Lyon Terry, the 2015 Washington State Teacher of the Year, was honored April 17 by the Washington State Senate with a resolution sponsored by Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell.

“It is a privilege to be able to honor such a dedicated and creative teacher,” McAuliffe said. “Lyon Terry is a teacher who truly cares about his students. He is dedicated to creating the relationships that drive his students to learn. Through his efforts, he has cultivated a strong relationship with his students, anchored by high expectations and relevance. As a result, his students are thriving.

A National Board Certified Teacher, Terry teaches a multi-age classroom at Lawton Elementary in Seattle. Since Terry started at Lawton, his fourth graders have seen their writing proficiency rates rise by more than 10 percentage points. He is also credited with creating and organizing Seattle’s first walking school bus program. A walking school bus is when a group of children walk to school together with one or more adults. Terry noticed that when kids were physically active and able to get their heebee-geebies out, they were better prepared to learn, noted McAuliffe.

“What I think Terry is doing that is so important is that he teaches kindness and makes sure that kindness is a part of his curriculum,” McAuliffe said. “Terry is a compassionate educator who fosters a learning environment where his students can grow into smart and caring adults.

“In honoring Lyon Terry, we honor all of Washington’s truly passionate, creative and caring teachers.”