Kent School District staff congratulated 25 teachers certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards for 2012, at a board meeting Feb.8. Becoming a National Board Certified Teacher is one of the highest honors an educator can achieve.

These teachers have typically spent at least 400 hours working on their applications and portfolios. This includes a video of a lesson, a detailed narrative of what occurred during that lesson, essays about the teacher’s beliefs and theories related to teaching and learning, and reflective writing regarding their teaching strategies.

Congressionally mandated research has determined that national certification has a positive impact on teacher retention, student achievement, and professional development.

“On behalf of the district Board of Directors and the district staff, I congratulate these teachers for this excellent achievement,” said Edward Lee Vargas, district superintendent. “This is a great example of the dedication and commitment district staff has toward providing a quality education for each and every one of our students.”

The award-winning teachers are:

– Susan Bailey, Covington Elementary, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood

– Marla Boyd, Kent Lake, World Languages Other than English/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood

– Robyn Enders, Horizon Elementary, Generalist/Middle Childhood

– Douglas Ferguson, Martin Sortun Elementary, Generalist/Middle Childhood

– Rebecca Fry, Jenkins Creek Elementary, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood

– Stacey Gruenich, Jenkins Creek Elementary, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood

– Debra Hanninen, Millennium Elementary, Generalist/Middle Childhood

– Karyn Higgins, Kent Elementary School, Counseling/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood

– Nancy Katzer, Meridian Middle School,    Physical Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood

– Renee Kuehn, Panther Lake Elementary    Generalist/Early Childhood

– Zachary Lenihan, Kent-Meridian High School, English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood

– Karen Love, Mill Creek Middle School, English Language Arts/Early Adolescence

– Theresa Martin,Kent-Meridian High School, Health/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood

– Eric Moran, Meeker Middle School, Social Studies – History/Early Adolescence

– Brandy Morella, Daniel Elementary, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood

– Teresa Paladino, Scenic Hill Elementary, Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood

– Michael Papritz, Kentridge High School, Social Studies – History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood

– Chase Parsley, KentLake, Social Studies – History/Early Adolescence

– Irma Perez, Meadow Ridge Elementary, Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood

– Alicea Rieger, Kentridge High    School, Counseling/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood

– Sarah Sage, Millennium Elementary, English Language Arts/Early Adolescence

– David Sarino, Kentridge High School, English as a New Language/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood

– Erik Siehl, Kent-Meridian High School, English as a New Language/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood

– Charlene Vermilion, Millennium Elementary, Generalist/Middle Childhood

– Elizabeth Zamora, Kentwood High School, World Languages Other than English/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood