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186 Wake Teachers Earn National Board Certification in 2006

January 10, 2007 - The Wake County Public School System had 186 teachers earn certification from the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards this year, bringing the school system’s total of National Board certified teachers to 1,137, the largest number of National Board certified teachers of any school system in the nation.

Top Schools for 2006
Garner High and Lincoln Heights Elementary each had seven teachers earn National Board certification this year, the largest number of any WCPSS school. Sanderson High had six teachers and Leesville Road High had five teachers earn certification. Lufkin Road Middle had the most certified teachers of any WCPSS middle school with four.

In Wake County, there were 87 elementary school teachers, 60 high school teachers, 37 middle schools teachers and several central services staff who earned certification this year.

Teachers say it’s worth the work
Garner High Social Studies Teacher Jeff Costa said the process requires teachers to think about teaching.

“Educators become more self aware of their teaching practices and styles,” said Costa. “The National Board process encourages reflection and constant evolvement of lessons to reach all students.”

Garner High English Teacher Amy Hawk Bennett said she was helped by other teachers at her school.

“Teachers who had earned certification held workshops for those who were working on certification,” said Bennett. “Other teachers in my department were great. They took on extra duties to free up some of my time, helped edit and proofread my work, and provided positive encouragement throughout the whole process. Our administration helped as well by relieving us of "extra" stress associated with duties and roaming.”

Lincoln Heights Elementary First Grade Teacher Christianne Stooks said the certification effort led her to review child development and helped her better understand what children need to be successful in the classroom.

“When children are toddlers they are very egocentric,” said Stooks. “When I see a student who is still egocentric that gives me a little clue about where the student is in their development. I can then adjust my teaching for that student based on their needs. I think it is reassuring for parents to know their child’s teacher is certified. It puts them at ease knowing their child's teacher is highly qualified.”

Lincoln Heights Elementary First Grade Teacher Betsy Henning said it was helpful to go through certification with a group of fellow teachers.

“We were all easily accessible to one another and it was helpful to have one another to check in with daily to make sure we were on the right track,” said Henning. “During the summer and throughout the school year, we had a lot of discussions about what we thought questions meant and how to interpret instructions. During the summer we also met as a group and discussed what we currently were doing in our classroom and how it fit with the standards. We also talked about new ways to meet the standards through our teaching.”

NC and WCPSS encourage certification
WCPSS encourages National Board certified teachers to serve as coaches for other teachers seeking certification. WCPSS provides newly certified National Board teachers a one-time $500 bonus. WCPSS supports teachers who pursue National Board certification by offering information sessions, meetings for candidates working in the same areas of certification and Internet-based support.

National Board certification is the most accepted symbol of teaching excellence in the U.S. To earn certification, teachers must demonstrate teaching practice, content knowledge, and professional growth through submission of portfolio entries and on a computerized assessment. Impact on student learning is the basis of all components of this certification.

North Carolina supports teachers pursuing National Board certification by:

Advance payment of the $2,500 assessment fee. (The teacher is obligated to teach in the state the following year whether they achieve National Board certification or not.)

Three paid release days from normal teacher responsibilities in order to develop their portfolios.

A 12 percent salary supplement to the teachers' regular salary, good for the 10-year life of the certification.

15 continuing education units (CEUs) awarded to the individual for completing the National Board certification process.

The Wake County teachers who earned certification from the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards in 2006 include:

Employee

School

Taylor, Melissa Anne

Adams Elementary School - 304

Young, Ann F

Adams Elementary School - 304

Moore, Stephanie

Apex Elementary School - 308

Kallander, Margaret Roberts

Apex High School - 316

Leary, Patrick L.

Apex High School - 316

Neff, Bobbie Jeanette

Apex High School - 316

West, Steven W.

Apex High School - 316

Badger, Arlene Kay

Apex Middle School - 312

Dreps, Matthew Gordon

Athens High School - 318

Johnson, Erin Maynard

Athens High School - 318

Von St Paul, Rebecca F.

Athens High School - 318

Soriano-Lillis, Robyn E

Aversboro Elementary School - 320

Embury, Lisa Ellen

Ballentine Elementary School - 327

Mandap, Grace L.

Ballentine Elementary School - 327

Corbitt, Elaine D.

Barwell Road Elementary School - 329

Maroclo, Christine A.

Barwell Road Elementary School - 329

Leoncini, Jennifer Bellezza

Brassfield Elementary School - 334

McCoy, Lauri Ann

Brassfield Elementary School - 334

Halliday, Beth Merion

Brentwood Elementary School - 336

Ruprecht, Gretchen Marie

Brentwood Elementary School - 336

Pernell, Nina Freeman

Brier Creek Elementary School - 342

Hughes, Ann Holland

Brooks Elementary School - 344

Dukes, Carolyn Ann

Broughton High School - 348

Royall, Julia Myers

Broughton High School - 348

Fraley, Karen R.

Bugg Elementary School - 352

Hall, Debra Taylor

Bugg Elementary School - 352

Jendro, Linda C.

Carroll Middle School - 360

Sanders, Hazel Alfreida

Carroll Middle School - 360

Lovett, Kathleen T.

Cary Elementary School - 364

Marcin, T. Aaron

Cary Elementary School - 364

Mickley, Devon Smith

Cary High School - 368

Millhoff, Ryan M

Centennial Middle School - 370

Watkins, Barbara M.

Combs Elementary School - 376

Wilson, Kelly Fish

Combs Elementary School - 376

Massengill, Carla W.

Conn Elementary School - 380

Garrett, Brandy Lynn

Creech Road Elementary School - 384

Williams, Amelia Louise*

Daniels Middle School - 388

Kirchhoff, Jennifer E

Daniels Middle School - 388

Crowell, Elizabeth Lippert

Davis Drive Middle School - 391

Paisie, Virginia M. (Ginny)

Davis Drive Middle School - 391

Cheeley, Wilson C

Dillard Drive Elementary School - 393

Rawls, Janet Dail (Dail)

Dillard Drive Elementary School - 393

Cummens, Mary W.

Dillard Drive Middle School - 394

Ridings, Sara M.

Douglas Elementary School - 396

Frazier, Billie Cain

Durant Road Elementary School - 398

Cancellieri, Paul Joseph

Durant Road Middle School - 399

Powell, Tony Ray

Durant Road Middle School - 399

Leon, Tracy Ellis

East Garner Middle School - 404

Temple, Natalie Evans

East Wake High School - 411

Mazzeo, Sheila Watkins

East Wake Middle School - 410

Phillips, Beverly J.

East Wake School of IT - 701

Strader, Betty Sue

East Wake School of IT - 701

Feeney, Sabra*

Enloe High School - 412

Chappell, Priscilla Anne

Enloe High School - 412

Herrman, Christine Marie

Enloe High School - 412

Slusser, Jennifer Hawkins

Enloe High School - 412

Daly-New, Diane

Forest Pines Elementary School - 417

Hamilton, Mr. Ken

Forest Pines Elementary School - 417

Batey, Amy S.

Forestville Elementary School - 413

Solomon, Sonia M.

Forestville Elementary School - 413

Pergerson, Deborah*

Fuller Elementary School - 416

Bailey, Cheryl Lee

Fuquay-Varina Elementary School - 420

Bunn, Robin Hahn

Fuquay-Varina Elementary School - 420

Fulford, Susan

Fuquay-Varina Elementary School - 420

Mathis, Nichole Keith

Fuquay-Varina Elementary School - 420

Bradford, Rebecca L.

Fuquay-Varina High School - 428

Nordberg, Jessica Oppegard

Fuquay-Varina High School - 428

Barger, Donna M.

Fuquay-Varina Middle School - 424

Bennett, Amy Hawk

Garner High School - 436

Boswell, Cheryl Lynn

Garner High School - 436

Costa, Jeffrey Bryce

Garner High School - 436

Hawley, Wilma Ellis

Garner High School - 436

House, Jane Marie

Garner High School - 436

Stone, Mary Jacquenette

Garner High School - 436

Walls, Joseph B.

Garner High School - 436

Peele, Linda E.

Green Hope Elementary School - 439

Rush, Benjamin

Green Hope High School - 441

Townsend, Rebecca L.

Green Hope High School - 441

Walpole, Margaret

Green Hope High School - 441

Lynch, Anne M.

Harris Creek Elementary School - 451

Pelletier, Heather Emery

Harris Creek Elementary School - 451

Strouth, Lisa Renee

Hodge Road Elementary School - 446

Holmes, Teresa Anne

Holly Grove Elementary School - 457

Perkinson, Patricia Lynn (Patty)

Holly Ridge Elementary School - 449

Hall, Patricia Ryan

Holly Ridge Middle School - 450

Hines, Melissa G.

Holly Springs Elementary School - 447

Shackleton, Cynthia

Holly Springs Elementary School - 447

Doggendorf, Gentry

Holly Springs High School - 455

Drake, Dana

Holly Springs High School - 455

Vinson, Heather Hendricks

Holly Springs High School - 455

Howard, Letitia Rainey

Human Resources - 835

Pellas, Matthew Michael

Hunter Elementary School - 448

Ziada Brandt, Eman H.

Joyner Elementary School - 456

Heath, Sandra Sandel

Knightdale Elementary School - 464

Anderson, Lessie

Knightdale High School - 466

Watkins, Christopher Battle

Knightdale High School - 466

Wade, Lesley G.

Lacy Elementary School - 468

Ausley, Gail J.

Lead Mine Elementary School - 470

Buchanan, Lori Tomiko

Leesville Road Elementary School - 469

Anderson, Yvonne Maria B.

Leesville Road High School - 473

Dean, Stephanie S.

Leesville Road High School - 473

Harrington, JoAnn Marie

Leesville Road High School - 473

Hunt, Sandra Parrish

Leesville Road High School - 473

Petty, Frances H.

Leesville Road High School - 473

Toney, Stephanie

Leesville Road Middle School - 471

Smith, Jessica Ingersoll

Leesville Road Middle School - 471

Thorsen, Karen H.

Ligon Middle School - 472

Halsey, Denise L.