LEONARDTOWN, Md. (Dec. 22, 2008)—St. Mary's County Public Schools announced that nine staff members recently earned National Board Certification through the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). This brings the school system's total of National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) to 30. There are currently 1,364 NBCT in Maryland and nearly 74,000 nationwide.
National Board Certified Teachers are highly accomplished educators who meet high standards. A year, often three, is spent by teachers documenting their work through portfolio and videotape entries, as well as passing several assessments.
In a congressionally-mandated study, National Board Certification was recently recognized by the National Research Council as having a positive impact on student achievement, teacher retention, and professional development.
The achievement rate nationally for teachers attempting certification is 40 percent. St. Mary's County Public Schools' achievement rate is 83 percent.
"This is a very demanding process," said Dr. Michael J. Martirano, superintendent of schools. "I am so proud of all our teachers who worked hard and went beyond the call of duty to earn National Board Certification."
The following nine SMCPS employees received National Board Certification:
(Name, School, Certification)
-- Cotugno, Jessica, Piney Point ES, Generalist/Middle Childhood
-- Donahue, Eva, Great Mills HS, World Languages Other than English/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
-- Kraft, Diana, James A. Forrest Career & Tech Ctr, School Counseling/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
-- Lewis, Deborah, Great Mills HS, Art/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
-- Lloyd, Lisa, Esparanza MS, Physical Education/Early Adolescence
-- Taylor, Susan, James A. Forrest Career & Tech Ctr, School Counseling/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
-- Tolson, Sandra, Chopticon HS, School Counseling/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
-- Tomcsik, Jessica, Piney Point ES, Generalist/Middle Childhood
-- Wood Varner, Janet, George Washington Carver ES, Generalist/Middle Childhood
For more information on the NBPTS process, visit www.nbpts.org.
Source: St. Mary's County Public Schools