Seven Lake Washington School District (LWSD) teachers — including two from Redmond — achieved National Board Certification, as announced by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).

In addition, three teachers renewed their certification this year. That makes a total of 10 teachers completing the process. Certifications must be renewed every 10 years.

The teachers from Redmond to receive the certification are Redmond High School’s Brian Schnierer and Redmond Middle School’s Elizabeth Metcalf. In addition, Maria Chesney of John James Audubon and Brigitte Tennis of Stella Schola Middle School from Redmond renewed their National Board certification.

According to NBPTS, 270 National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) working in LWSD have earned their certification. National Board certification is considered the highest professional credential a teacher can obtain.

“Lake Washington School District seeks to hire and retain highly effective teachers,” said LWSD Superintendent Dr. Traci Pierce. “We are pleased to have so many teachers commit and re-commit themselves to excellence. The National Board Certification process helps teachers ensure maximum academic success for students by analyzing every area of their teaching practice.”

The National Board certification takes teachers through a demanding process that typically takes more than a year to complete. It requires teachers to demonstrate how their work improves student achievement. As part of the process, teachers build a portfolio that includes student work samples, assignments, videotapes and a thorough analysis of their classroom teaching. Teachers also are assessed on their knowledge of the subjects they teach.