Education News-Caldwell County Schools



Education News-Caldwell County Schools

Libby Brown, Community Relations Director Phone: 828.728.8407 x120 Fax: 828.728.0012

Immediate release…December 30, 2009

TEACHERS EARN NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION

--- the highest credential in the teaching profession ---

The Caldwell County School System applauds 12 teachers who recently earned certification by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards, bringing the total number of teachers who have earned national certification while teaching in the Caldwell County Schools to 193, or 24 percent of the teaching cadre. From the first two recipients in 1995, the Caldwell County School System has successfully placed an emphasis on educators pursing the highest credential in the teaching profession.

“We strongly support and encourage our teachers to pursue this most prestigious certification in the teaching profession,” said Superintendent Dr. Steve Stone, “We are extremely proud of each teacher’s accomplishment, which involves hundreds of additional hours of study outside the classroom.”

National Board Certification is a rewarding, yet extremely challenging process that educators undergo: “We regard the certification process as a rigorous and reflective professional study that takes some candidates up to four years to complete,” said Dr. Stone. “When teachers work this hard to improve their teaching skills and build their knowledge, our students and schools reap the benefits.”

Teachers committed to becoming certified must demonstrate their knowledge and skills through a series of performance-based assessments, teaching portfolios, student work samples, videotapes and analyses of their classroom teaching and student learning. The average time to complete national boards ranges from one to three years.

North Carolina remains the national leader in the total number of teachers who have earned certification by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards, accounting for nearly 19 percent of the nation’s certified teachers. The state also ranks first in the nation in the number of newly-certified teachers. The success across North Carolina and in Caldwell County can be attributed largely to the support systems in place and incentives provided to teachers.

For the 12 newly-certified teachers in Caldwell County, the state offers an attractive 12 percent salary increase, good for the 10-year life of the certification. The state also pays the $2,500 assessment fee and provides three paid release days for candidates to work on their portfolios and prepare for the assessments. Once the National Board Certification process is completed, candidates are awarded 15 continuing education units (CEUs).

Congratulations to the following teachers who recently received the news that they had become National Board Certified:

|Rosa Absher |Baton |

|Janice Barnhill |Baton |

|Christy Owens |Baton |

|Sean Hosfield |Collettsville |

|Daniel Miller |Caldwell Early College |

|Mimi Starnes |Granite Falls Elem. |

|Hollie Hurst |Granite Falls Middle |

|Amy King |Hibriten |

|Tim Holland |Hudson Middle |

|Rebecca Robbins |South Caldwell |

|Danielle Duncan |Whitnel |

|Stephanie Duncan also achieved National Board while in Caldwell |

|County teaching at WCHS.  She resigned at the end of the |

|2008-2009 school year. |

On the local level, the Caldwell County School System reimburses 50 percent of out-of-pocket portfolio entry fees for advanced candidates making their second attempt.

National Board Certification is issued for a period of 10 years and renewal may begin as early as the eighth year of the original certification cycle. Candidates who successfully renew in North Carolina will continue to receive salary incentives. Recently the following National Board Certified teachers renewed their certification for an additional ten years, valid until 2020: Michelle Capen, Whitnel Elementary; Elizabeth Carswell, South Caldwell; Dolores Cupo, South Caldwell; and Kathryn McRary, West Caldwell; and Susan Morgan, retired.

In recognition of teachers in the Caldwell County School System who recently earned National Board Certification and those who renewed their certification, a special reception will be held in their honor on January 11, prior to the Board of Education meeting from 6:00 pm to 6:45 pm at the Education Center in the Board Room. The Board will make a special presentation at 7:00 pm. The public is invited to attend.

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CALDWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS

1914 Hickory Blvd. Lenoir, NC 28645

Vision: Every student will graduate from high school, be globally competitive for work or postsecondary education, and be prepared for life in the 21st century.

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