Bill Gates Sr. visits Lakeridge Elementary School

The Renton School District had some high-profile visitors on Thursday to see the collaborative work between the University of Washington College of Education and Lakeridge Elementary School staff to improve teaching and learning.

Bill Gates Sr., co-chair of the Gates Foundation, lead a group of major funders and education professionals on a tour of Lakeridge Elementary School in the West Hill area of Renton. Gates was joined by Dean Allen, Washington STEM Board President, to see first-hand the product of the UW-Lakeridge work and to hear how teachers are provided ongoing professional development by UW faculty to constantly improve education in the elementary school.

Washington STEM (Science, Technology, Education and Mathematics)—a statewide nonprofit dedicated to improving education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—and the Gates Foundation are contributors to the UW College of Ed work to improve instruction in local K-12 schools.