Five Chas. Co. Teachers Earn National Board Certification

LA PLATA, Md. (January 23, 2011) — Five Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) teachers joined the ranks of accomplished teachers nationwide who achieved national certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).

The teachers, Tamara Barnes, JoAnne Shelak, Gary Lesko, Heather Neely and Jessica Pratta, completed a yearlong performance-based assessment series to become National Board Certified Teachers, according to a December release by the NBPTS. National Board Certified Teachers represent approximately 3 percent of the nation’s teaching force.

 

	Barnes is a Reading Resource Teacher at Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School and earned a reading-language arts/early and middle childhood certificate.
	Lesko is a social studies teacher at North Point High School and earned his certificate in social studies-history/adolescence and young adulthood.
	Neely is a Life Skills resource teacher based at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building and earned an exceptional needs specialist/early childhood through young adulthood certificate.
	Pratta is a social studies teacher at North Point and earned a social studies-history/adolescence and young adulthood certificate.
	Shelak is a science teacher at William A. Diggs Elementary School and earned a generalist/middle childhood certificate.

National Board Certified Teachers must complete a rigorous review of their skills and work, which includes teacher portfolios, student work samples, videotapes, and thorough analysis of the candidates’ classroom teaching and student learning. Teachers also complete a series of written exercises that probe the depth of their subject-matter knowledge and their understanding of how to teach that material to students.

The five CCPS teachers join 8,639 teachers nationwide who were certified in 2010. Certification is valid for 10 years, after which a teacher may seek renewal. Charles County Public Schools has 31 nationally certified teachers.

By achieving National Board Certification, the Charles County teachers are eligible for a $2,500 stipend added to their annual salary as well as an annual $1,000 incentive from the Maryland State Department of Education as long as they remain in the classroom and maintain their National Board Certification.

“National Board Certification improves teaching and learning. It is proven to have a positive impact on student achievement, and I commend each of these teachers for successfully completing the intense process to earn national certification,” said Superintendent James E. Richmond.

Only teachers with a standard or advanced professional certificate who have a minimum of three years successful teaching experience are eligible to apply for National Board Certification.

For more information about NBPTS, visit www.nbpts.org.

Source: Charles County Public School System