ALLENTOWN, Pa. — If there’s a problem at Raub Middle School that needs solving, Brandy Rentko is on the case.
Raub Assistant Principal Corey Cowen described Rentko, a longtime educator, as a “fixer” who always knows which gadget to pull out of her teacher toolbox.
“Sometimes she knows when to take out the hammer and give it a little tap," Cowen said. "Sometimes she knows when she needs the power drill.”
Rentko, an English language arts interventionist and staple in the Raub community, was recently chosen as Allentown School District's 2024-25 Teacher of the Year.
“I was honored honestly just to be in the top four."Allentown Schools Teacher of the Year Brandy Rentko
Her win was announced Monday at the district’s convocation ceremony at PPL Center. The event welcomed back teachers ahead of the school year, which starts next week.
Rentko was nominated for the Teacher of the Year recognition by a colleague and chosen as a finalist by an ASD staff committee.
The other finalists were Kimberly Craig, a fourth-grade teacher at Lehigh Parkway Elementary School; Luat “Jason” Nguyen, an autistic support teacher at Trexler Middle School; and Pati Williams, a kindergarten teacher at Ritter Elementary School.
Students, staff, parents and community members voted to select the winner of the contest, which has been held for the past three years.
“I was honored honestly just to be in the top four,” Rentko said.
Jefferson Elementary School Principal Daria Custer and Raub Safety Officer Shameka Gatling won administrator and support staff member of the year, respectively.
‘A calming presence’
Rentko has taught at Raub, on the edge of Allentown’s West End, for nearly 25 years, spending most of that time as a special education teacher.
Rentko knew she wanted to work in special education since she was a child, she said.
She was inspired to pursue the career path because of her childhood friend Nicole, who has Down syndrome.
Rentko went to a Catholic elementary school that didn't have a special education program to support students like Nicole.
Rentko was troubled that her friend couldn’t go to the same school as she did.
“To me, I was like, ‘Well, why can’t they provide the resources there for her?'” Rentko said.
That experience, Rentko said, sparked her passion for inclusion.
In her work, Rentko makes students and families, as well as her colleagues, feel included and part of a community.
Her genuine desire to build connections is evident, said Jennifer Maxell, an eighth-grade English language arts teacher at Raub.
Maxell said Rentko is able to successfully redirect students when they need to improve their behavior because they respect her authenticity.
“Brandy just has this persona to her that even with kids when they are in their worst moment and most upset, just the tone in which she can talk to them, they can feel the honesty,” said Maxell, who has been a colleague of Rentko’s for more than two decades.
“They just react better to it than they do [with] others. She’s just got a very calming presence with them.”
‘Willing to lend a hand’
Rentko also prioritizes connections with her students’ families.
As part of the school’s climate and culture committee, Rentko created Raub’s student of the month program, which brings student winners and their families to the school library for a celebration with food and games.
“If the families are comfortable with us, then we get more involvement, and they want to come to events and they want to come see the teacher,” Rentko said.
“If somebody needs something, she’s always there.”Monica Sellitti, an eighth grade English language arts teacher at Raub
Rentko said it's important for students to see that their families and teachers are “on the same page.”
Rentko also has built strong relationships with fellow staff members, her colleagues said.
“She’s always the one who's willing to lend a hand for someone, and go above and beyond for someone,” said Monica Sellitti, also an eighth-grade English language arts teacher at Raub.
“If somebody needs something, she’s always there.”
Rentko previously was an instructional coach, providing teachers with feedback on their work in the classroom. She is also a longtime union representative for her building.
Rentko said she particularly enjoys mentoring young teachers.
“They come in nervous, and I like to see them get help to accomplish things in the classroom," she said. "A lot of them have great ideas because they’re younger and they’re coming in all enthusiastic.”
Additionally, Rentko is involved in various staff teams, such as those that connect students to academic and social-emotional resources.
She also has been instrumental in a school attendance initiative.
“There’s not an event that goes on here that she doesn’t help out with — and not because she has to, but just because she wants to,” Sellitti said of Rentko.
“The grass does not grow under her feet. She does not do well with idle time.”
‘Right people in the right place’
Colleagues said Rentko is particularly dedicated to the Raub community and the craft of teaching.
But Rentko said the nature of the education field requires teachers to be jacks of all trades, especially in the years since the COVID-19 pandemic, because student needs have increased.
That’s all the more true at Raub, where students have experienced high levels of trauma and the majority of families are economically disadvantaged.
“It’s no longer just teaching," Rentko said. "You have to be a mentor, you have to be a social worker, you have to be a nurse.
“All those things [are] encompassed in the classroom, or else you can’t teach, because you have to have all of their basic needs met in order for them to want to learn in the classroom.”
Still, Assistant Principal Cowen said Rentko’s dedication to Raub is special.
She and other standout teachers are “the backbone” of Allentown schools, he said.
“You cannot underestimate the power of having the right people in the right place,” Cowen said.
