East St. John Elementary School teacher Elizabeth Thompson has been recognized as a Renaissance Extraordinary Educator.

For 17 years in a row, she and her students have achieved Model Classroom Certification for Accelerated Reader.

Accelerated Reader focuses on using the program’s suggested best practices to help students reach personalized and class-reading goals.

Thompson’s students, including those in special education, score consistently in the 90 to 95 percent range for English Language Arts, and some of her students have experienced two years of reading growth in one year.

Thompson was one of the first teachers to achieve Master Reading Classroom when the program started and has continued to reach this higher certification level with her class every year since.

Thompson was recognized for her achievement at the May 15 school board meeting.