News

Thirteen schoolteachers win National Board certification

By Lightning Reports, Published: February 13, 2023

Thirteen Henderson County schoolteachers have earned National Board Certification and 28 more have recertified the credential, the school system said.

The most respected professional certification available in K-12 education, National Board Certification is an optional intensive certification process with extremely high standards for teachers. This winter, Henderson County Public Schools celebrates the educators who have just earned the credential from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and 28 more who recertified their credentials in 2022. The Henderson County School Board will recognize the 41 certified teachers at today's meeting.

With 23,858 teachers in the state with the certification, North Carolina leads the nation in having the most teachers with the credential, according to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Of the 2,814 teachers who earned national certification for the first time in the 2021-2022 school year, North Carolina topped the list with 486. Currently in HCPS, 168 teachers are National Board Certified. Newly certified teachers here are:

• Mayra Granados, an ESL teacher at Hillandale Elementary School
• April Summey, an AIG teacher at Hendersonville Elementary School
• Rebecca Martin, an Exceptional Children's teacher at Hillandale Elementary School
• Nicole Conti, a first grade teacher at Bruce Drysdale Elementary School
• Jennifer Reed, a fourth grade teacher at Bruce Drysdale Elementary School
• Amber Buehler, an eighth grade math teacher at Apple Valley Middle
• Tara Hammond, a fifth grade teacher at Hillandale Elementary School
• Holly Brookshire, a first grade teacher at Hillandale Elementary School
• Sheri Todd, an Exceptional Children's teacher at Glenn C. Marlow Elementary School
• Lauren Matoian, an ESL teacher at Clear Creek Elementary School
• Emilia Smith, a math teacher at North Henderson High School
• Lindsey Bercume, a physical education teacher at Hendersonville High School
• Allison Marek, an English teacher at West Henderson High School

Recertified teachers include Kristy Ontko, Holly McMurray, Margaret DeCorah, Jessica Houston, Annah Lord, Natalie Pierce, Amanda Parks, Margaret McDade, Bridget Grant, Heather Godfrey, Katie McCrary, Alison Thompson, Carly Allman, Lucy Joyce, Sarah Swanzy, Patricia Seward, Michael Pruett, Candace Young, Amy Ramsey, Robin Atwell, Stephanie Merrill, Richele Dunavent, Jodie Baker, Andrea Smith, Chad Neuburger, Kimberly Metcalf, Shari Edmisten and Heather Denton.

As a part of the initial certification process, new candidates build a portfolio that includes student work samples, assignments, videotapes and a thorough analysis of their classroom teaching. The rigorous performance-based assessment typically takes one to three years to complete and measures what accomplished teachers and counselors should know and be able to do. To keep certification active, NBCTs must successfully complete a Maintenance of Certification every five years. This 40-60 hour investment requires NBCTs to provide a written commentary describing Professional Growth Experiences in their careers that have significantly impacted student learning and involved collaboration, and illustrate the expectation that the educator has continued to grow professionally since certification.