Eight teachers earn national certification

Published 12:00 am Thursday, February 14, 2013

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) has announced that eight Rowan-Salisbury School System teachers have achieved National Board Certification in 2012.
To achieve the certification, teachers complete a performance-based assessment that typically takes one to three years. While state licensing systems set basic requirements to teach in each state, National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) have successfully demonstrated advanced teaching knowledge, skills and practices.
The Rowan-Salisbury School System was the 15th highest in the state this year with its number of newly-credentialed teachers. In total, RSSS has 199 educators who have successfully completed National Board Certification.
The eight new Rowan-Salisbury teachers were recognized at the Jan. 28 RSS school board meeting.
Their accomplishments will be celebrated in an annual reception in the spring. The eight teachers achieving 2012 National Board Certification are as follows, with certification area and school served:
Lani Earnhardt, Millbridge Elementary, literacy: reading-language arts, early and middle childhood; Jenna Freeze, Mount Ulla Elementary, literacy: reading-language arts, early and middle childhood; Bob Johnson, North Rowan High, social studies-history, early adolescence; Carrie Powers Melton, West Rowan High, career and technical education, early adolescence through young adulthood; Molly Palmer, Rockwell Elementary, school counseling, early childhood through young adulthood; Aaron Richmond, West Rowan High, mathematics, adolescence and young adulthood; Nancy Salamone, Morgan Elementary, reading-language arts, early and middle childhood; and Sarah Stepp, Hanford Dole Elementary, generalist, early childhood.
Fifteen teachers in the system successfully renewed their National Board Certification in 2012. Certification renewal is required every 10 years. To renew certificate, a teacher has to submit a portfolio demonstrating professional growth in four areas of the teacher’s choice.
The 15 teachers who renewed their certification in 2012 are as follows, with certification area and school served:
Paula Askew, Morgan Elementary, generalist, early childhood; Tonja Brinegar-German, Horizons Unlimited, science, adolescent and young adulthood; Elizabeth Cook, Erwin Middle, vocal music, adolescent through young adulthood; Susan LaMarre, Rockwell Elementary, English language arts, early adolescence; Sarah Phillips, Overton Elementary, physical education, early childhood through adolescence; Amy Pickler, Southeast Middle, mathematics, early adolescence; Nina Pope, Isenberg Elementary, generalist, early adolescence; Timothy Safrit, Corriher-Lipe Middle, social studies-history, early adolescence; Alexandra Shadroui, Mount Ulla Elementary, science, early adolescence; Traci Steele, West Rowan High, career and technical education, early childhood through young adulthood; Brenda Stewart, Henderson Indpendent High, exceptional needs specialist, early childhood through young adulthood; Amy Stokes, Granite Quarry Elementary, generalist, early childhood; Staci Tatum, Granite Quarry Elementary, generalist, middle childhood; Cynthia Waller, Erwin Middle, social studies-history, early adolescence; Linda Winecoff, Hurley Elementary, exceptional needs specialist, early childhood through young adulthood.
Dr. William Dwayne and Dana Robertson serve as the district’s NBCT coordinators.