The Kent School Board recently recognized teachers who achieved National Board certification by meeting rigorous National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

In addition, 16 teachers and one assistant principal completed recertification of their credentials, and about 30 teachers are in the process of earning advanced teaching credentials.

The certification was developed to recognize accomplished teachers and to continuously improve schools throughout the country. Certification supports two of the Kent School District’s strategic goals:

• Preparing students to be college and career ready by raising the academic and social-emotional learning bar and closing pre-kindergarten-to-16 gaps to student achievement and college completion

• Recruit, hire, develop and retain a diverse and premier workforce, including increasing National Board certification for teachers by 10 percent to reach 25 percent by 2021.

The certification process, which can take up to three years, involves a teaching demonstration. Candidates typically invest 200 to 400 hours creating a portfolio to be assessed. The school district partners with the Kent Education Association to support educators who pursue certification.

Charlene Vermilion, a K-6 English language arts program specialist and principal intern who achieved certification in 2011, is lead facilitator.

“I have been privileged to walk alongside most of these accomplished educators as they worked to develop and demonstrate their expertise as a National Board certificated teacher,” Vermilion said. “The schools they work in and students they teach benefit each and every day from their efforts. They use their knowledge of students to provide fairness, equity and access to an excellent education while engaging parents and the community to share in the work.”

2018-19 National Board candidates: Eric Andersen, Cortney Arp, Erika Dockter, Jenny Douglas, Russell Hanson, Lindsay Jarvis, Tawona Kubena, Aimee Leonce, Jennifer Nichols, Reby Parsley, Terasa Snoozy and Jonathan Welhouse.

Students shine at fair

Nearly 150 Jenkins Creek Elementary School students recently participated in their annual Science and Engineering Fair. This year, the school expanded the traditional science fair format to include engineer-designed projects and technologies.

“Our … fair is an opportunity for students to investigate questions, topics and problems that are of interest to them,” said Christine McLaughlin, event coordinator. “The night of the fair, students are excited to share what they discovered to our school and local community.”

Covington City Council members, Kent School Board members, a Covington Police officer, Kiwanis members, Cedar Heights Middle School STEM and science teachers and Boeing engineers explored the fair. Retired Jenkins Creek teachers judged the projects.

Elsewhere

Max Kendall, who will graduate from Kentridge High School in June, is one of 10 incoming Saint Martin’s University first-year students selected to serve as the eighth cohort of Benedictine Scholars. Kendall plans to major in business administration. The Benedictine Scholars’ mission is to promote a deeper understanding of the Catholic, Benedictine values and heritage that define the school. Benedictine Scholars are ambassadors who serve their communities, meet in small groups and work on a project of their cohort’s own choosing. …

Kent’s Alexandria Lockhart (communication studies) graduated from Northern State University (Aberdeen, S.D.) at its spring commencement on May 4. … Isaiah Eller, a 2018 Kentridge High School graduate, was honored with the 2018-2019 Outstanding Freshman Honors Scholar-Emma Coburn Norris Peak Award for having the highest freshman GPA at Troy (Ala.) University. …

Kentwood High School’s Vivian Ma recently received a $5,000 scholarship from Denali, a division of Nuvision Credit Union. Ma plans to attend the University of Washington this fall and major in biology with the goal of becoming a pharmacist. … Erin Denney received bachelor of arts degree (economics-mathematics, summa cum laude) from Whitman College in Walla Walla on Sunday, May 19. Denney is a Kentridge High School graduate.