Seventeen more teachers complete National Board Certification
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on March 19, 2006 2:00 AM
Wayne County Public Schools has announced 17 more teachers who have earned National Board Certification.
The newly certified teachers were recognized during Monday night's school board meeting and presented with $500 checks from the school system.
Board member Thelma Smith said that this brings the school system's total number of board-certified teachers to 145.
"Wayne County continues to be a leader in the state with one of the highest percentages of teachers earning board certification," she said. "North Carolina has the highest number of board-certified teachers in the nation. Our outstanding percentage of certified teachers speaks highly of the quality and dedication of teachers we have in our classrooms.
"These teachers have worked to better themselves professionally, which undoubtedly will have a direct benefit on student achievement."
Earning certification is a challenging, time-consuming process, she said. Nationally, about half of all applicants receive certification.
Candidates must prepare portfolios with written and videotaped documentation of classroom instruction. They must also take a four-hour essay exam designed to show their subject knowledge and understanding of how to teach.
Congratulating the honorees, Mrs. Smith expressed the board's pride for their hard work.
"We commend you on your desire to not only grow in your profession, but to help improve the quality of education for Wayne County Public Schools' students," she said.
The district's newest certified teachers are:
*Kristin Bartley, Carver Heights Elementary
*Jeffery Bradley, Grantham School
*Jill Bridgers Eubanks, Rosewood Elementary
*Joan Brock Stafford, Northwest Elementary
*Kellie Davis, Spring Creek High
*Wendolyn Flowers, Tommy's Road Elementary
*Mary Hawk, Eastern Wayne Elementary
*Nicole Jackson, Eastern Wayne Elementary
*Betty Moore, Eastern Wayne Elementary
*Antoinette Parks, Meadow Lane Elementary
*Sharon Patterson, Spring Creek Elementary
*Harold Person, Norwayne Middle
*Shannon Plummer, Carver Heights Elementary
*Susan Randolph, Eastern Wayne High
*Stacy Shaver, Norwayne Middle
*Jessica Sutton, Eastern Wayne High
*Kimberly Weisiger, Edgewood Community Developmental School.