For the Reporter

The Kent School District honored 40 education professionals for receiving national board certifications at a school board meeting Wednesday night.

National Board Certified Teachers are nationally recognized as being among the best teachers in the profession and they comprise approximately three percent of the national teaching force. Congressionally mandated research over the past 20 years has determined that national certification has a positive impact on teacher retention, student achievement, and professional development.

Teachers spend approximately 200 to 400 hours to become a National Board Certified Teacher. This process involves a demonstration of the candidate’s teaching practice as measured through a rigorous two-part assessment that includes developing a portfolio of videotaped classroom teaching, lesson plans, and student work samples to show the teacher’s instructional impact on student learning. It also includes a demonstration of subject-area knowledge, classroom practices, curriculum design and student learning through a written assessment.

In addition to honoring 36 teachers and school counselors, four educational staff associates were recognized for achieving national certification. ESAs include speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, school psychologists, physical therapists and nurses. This certification process is consistent with the process that NBCT teachers complete involving combinations of coursework, supervised practicum experiences, and national examinations.

“I admire what you have accomplished,” School Board Vice President Karen DeBruler said, at the meeting. “As a retired teacher, I know it was difficult.”

As of November 2014, the Kent School District is fifth in the state for the number of new national certified educators, and the state ranks first in the country.

The Kent School district partners with the Kent Education Association to provide support for teachers choosing to pursue the National Board certification process.

The new National Board Certified Teachers are Julie Badgley, Ellen Bonnard, Brenda Bottorff, Amanda Broxon, Scott Cleary, Emily Coleman, Brennah Corrigan, Tracy Crutchfield, Megan Domoszlay, Kristina Duffy, Gayle Fiedorczyk, Kristy Glover, Kristy Gomez, Natalie Hill, Becky Keene, Jacklyn Kellogg, Lisa Kelly, Jinna Lee, Holli Loghry, Corey McMillan, Daniel Meade, Sandee Mendrysa, Laura Mroos, Kristin Nielsen, Dana Piehl, Susan Pinkerton, Michael Robinett, Anne Schmidt, Janis Siesser, Cindy Singer, Meghan Terwillegar, Jay Thornton, Brian Upchurch, Selina Ward, Daniel Woods and Carlee Wyatt.

School nurses Hannah Ridge and Carrie Wright, occupational therapist Robin Bender and speech language pathologist Sara Hershcopf achieved national certification in their fields.