Kyrene School District proudly congratulates six teachers on achieving National Board Certification, the highest professional distinction in education, through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). Additionally, one teacher has successfully renewed their certification, bringing Kyrene’s total number of National Board Certified Teachers to 25. The teachers who have earned this credential are:
 

Newly Certified:

• Jenna Aguinaga, Physical Education Teacher, Kyrene Monte Vista
• Rochelle Cotela, Grade 5 Teacher, Kyrene de la Esperanza
• Raquel Ellis, District Teacher Facilitator (PreK-3) Literacy
• Suzanne Maki, District Teacher Facilitator (PreK-3) Math
• Sarah Manchester, Grade 5 Teacher, Kyrene de la Esperanza
• Jessica Van Oostrom, Music Teacher, Kyrene del Milenio

Renewing Certification:

• Michelle Ang, Resource Teacher, Kyrene Traditional Academy
   

“Becoming a National Board Certified Teacher is ultimately about my students,” Manchester said. “I want to show up for them every day. Completing my national boards prompted me to reflect on my practice making me a more effective and aware educator for them.”

National Board Certification is achieved through a rigorous, performance-based assessment of a teacher's pedagogical skills and content knowledge. The certification takes one to three years to complete.

“I am so happy that I went through the NBCT process,” Ellis said. “Going through this strengthened my ability to pay meticulous attention to detail in planning for instruction and delivering lessons. From the beginning, I appreciated the personalized support from my mentors at the K-12 Center, who empowered me to make this journey my own. I am incredibly humbled and honored to join our exceptional group of NBCTs here in Kyrene.”

While state licensing systems set the basic requirements to teach in each state, National Board Certified Teachers have demonstrated advanced teaching knowledge, skills and practices. NBPTS certification identifies qualified teachers as leaders in their field, much like the certifications earned by experts in law and medicine. Completion of NBPTS's National Board Certification process signifies that the teachers have developed and demonstrated the skills required of a true education professional. 

“Engaging in the process to become a National Board Certified teacher changes the way you think about what the decisions you make each day and the impact those decisions have on the children in front of you,” Director of Professional Growth and Development, Dr. Jo Shurman said. “It changes the way you think and makes you a better teacher. This voluntary process is rigorous and requires a teacher to truly reflect on their own teaching. It is a testament to our teachers’ dedication and desire to be the best they can be.”

More information about Kyrene’s growing list of Nationally Board Certified Teachers, and the National Board Certification program, can be found at www.kyrene.org/nbct.