Wednesday, December 12, 2001
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Wednesday, December 12, 2001 |
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Fayette teachers get national certification Sixteen Fayette teachers are among a record number of educators nationwide to earn the teaching profession's highest credential National Board certification. Approximately 6,500 teachers from 49 states and the District of Columbia earned their national certification in 2001. The newly certified teachers in Fayette bring the school system's total number of National Board certificates to 20. National Board candidates for the 2000-2001 school year found out Nov. 15 whether they had earned their certificates. Fayette's teachers who qualified for the certificate are Beth Dawkins, Brooks Elementary; Bob Didier, Rising Starr Middle; Rita Hansen, Spring Hill Elementary; Carol Taylor, Rising Starr Middle; Mike Kirkland, Rising Starr Middle; Tom Lewis, Sandy Creek High; Mary Elizabeth Mendenhall, Kedron Elementary; Suzanne Parrish, Braelinn Elementary; Ophelia Mustain, Rising Starr Middle; Jim Reynolds, Rising Starr Middle, Shelley Rollins, Huddleston Elementary; Joann Rouse, Rising Starr Middle; Stephanie Sudduth, Huddleston Elementary; Mary Wilde, Booth Middle; Valerie Young, Spring Hill Elementary, and Mary Filko, Oak Grove Elementary. National Board certification is a symbol of teaching excellence. A voluntary process established by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, certification is achieved through a performance-based assessment that takes nearly a year to complete. Through the assessment process, teachers document their subject matter knowledge, provide evidence that they know how to effectively teach their subjects and demonstrate their ability to manage and measure student learning. Linda Brem of Fayette County High School was the first teacher in the school system to earn national certification in 1999. She says she is pleased to see other teachers going through the process to help improve their own professional capacity and help their students. "I am extremely pleased that we have increased the number of National Board certified teachers in Fayette County," Brem said. "To me National Board certification represents a reform movement in education lead and monitored by educators." Last year in the school system, 24 teachers went through the process the largest group to date to apply for certification. Only eight of those teachers were not awarded national certification, for a first time pass rate of almost 70 percent compared to the national estimate of 50 percent. Terri Gaspierik, coordinator of staff development, credits the school system's National Board certification support system as having a direct impact on the county's above average pass rate. Each year, a meeting is conducted to inform teachers about what is involved in obtaining certification. Throughout the year, teacher leaders, those who have already earned their certification, meet with National Board candidates to provide guidance and support throughout the process. Also, as required by the state, the system gives teachers two days of duty leave to work on certification activities. "This program is extremely difficult and rigorous," Gaspierik said. "It is important that candidates have a support system. A teacher in isolation will have a hard time passing." As more teachers in Fayette become nationally certified, Gaspierik said the goal is to have them become teacher leaders for specific certification areas. For example, a teacher whose area is high school English could work only with candidates who are seeking certification in that subject matter. Gaspierik added that some teachers view national certification as better than going back to school to earn an additional degree. "Before seeking this certification, I had considered getting a doctorate degree," said Mary Elizabeth Mendenhall. "After looking over the differences in completing National Board certification or getting a doctorate, I decided on national certification. National certification would help me become a better teacher." Certification is good for 10 years, after which the certificate has to be renewed. National certification is reserved
for teachers with three or more years of experience. It costs $2,300 to
go through the program. However, teachers can apply to the state for $2,000.
Also, scholarships are offered through various educational and teacher
organizations, which can aid in helping to offset the remaining costs
of the certification process.
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