Washington continues its progress in advancing the National Board Certification education reform movement with the announcement of 1,248 new National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) in 2009. The state ranked second nationwide in the number of teachers achieving board certification this year and ranks fifth in the total number of NBCTs over time (3,964).
The Lake Washington School District (LWSD) added 40 new NBCTs this year, bringing its total to 141 NBCTs. That puts the LWSD at fourth place, statewide, in its number of NBCTs.
New NBCTs from Redmond schools are:
Audubon Elementary: Melissa Newberry, Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood
Rockwell Elementary: Kristi Beaver, Generalist/Early Childhood
Rosa Parks Elementary: Lynn Armstrong, Generalist/Early Childhood;
Angela Cavelero, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood;
Lee Ann Jackson, Generalist/Middle Childhood
Rush Elementary: Miok Oh, Generalist/Middle Childhood
Evergreen Junior High: Wendy Robards, Mathematics/Early Adolescence
Redmond Junior High: David Roderick, Science/Early Adolescence
Redmond High School: Kathryn Badger, English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood;
Mary Marsh, Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood;
Christopher Rose, Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Special Services: Staci Allen (Autism Specialist), Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
An “extraordinary group,” is how U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan referred to this year’s class of National Board Certified Teachers in a September interview with NBPTS. He said teachers who achieved National Board Certification have “demonstrated a commitment to taking their teaching practice and the teaching profession to a different level.”
“The leadership and example they’re setting for the system is phenomenal,” said Duncan. “What if every child had a chance to be taught by a National Board Certified Teacher? I think the difference it would make in students’ lives would be extraordinary.”
“As we move forward on this turnaround agenda nationally, I would love for National Board Certified Teachers to be at the forefront of that movement,” said Duncan.
In many schools, districts and states across the nation, National Board Certified Teachers are assuming leadership roles, serving as mentors, facilitating professional development and leading education reform efforts in their districts and states. Several states are capitalizing on the expertise of these outstanding teacher leaders in their “Race to the Top” proposals. They are using accomplished teachers to increase effectiveness and improve school conditions to better meet the academic learning needs of students in targeted high-need schools.
For more information about NBPTS and National Board Certification, visit www.nbpts.org.
