Release Date: Nov 30, 2004 1:00 AM  

Forty-Six Teachers Receive National Board Certification Top Honor Brings Total to 251 in First State 

Dover, Del. - November 30, 2004 The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) has released the names of 8,056 teachers, among them 46 Delaware teachers, who have attained the highest professional credential-National Board Certification-for the 2003-2004 school year.

The 46 teachers, representing 13 of Delaware's 19 school districts and one charter school, bring to 251 the total of Delaware teachers who have earned this prestigious honor since the national program began during the 1993-1994 school year.

"I cannot say enough about the dedication of these 46 teachers, who spent an incredible amount of time and energy over the past year to achieve this national distinction," Governor Ruth Ann Minner said. "They obviously want the best for their students, and I am proud to have them as part of our Delaware public school system."

"I am very proud of these outstanding professionals," said Secretary of Education Valerie A. Woodruff. "The distinction of being 'National Board Certified' can only be attained through a tremendous amount of time, effort and discipline as well as being highly dedicated and motivated to the teaching profession. The Department of Education congratulates each of our newly-selected National Board Certified Teachers on a job well done!"

In order to become National Board Certified, a teacher must complete an innovative two-phase process. The first phase is conducted at the teacher's school where each teacher builds a portfolio which illustrates evidence of good teaching practice as well as demonstrating how their teaching meets the advanced standards in their fields. The portfolio is prepared according to instructions provided by the National Board and contains videotapes of classroom teaching, lesson plans, student work samples and written commentaries by each candidate that explains in detail what he or she is doing and why.

The second phase of the process involves a series of written exercises conducted at an assessment center. Exercises are designed around challenging teacher issues and include simulations of classroom practices, evaluating other teachers' practices, designing curriculum, assessing student learning and a teacher's subject matter knowledge.

The entire assessment process takes almost an entire school year, with each candidates spending nearly 300 hours on assessment activities.

A certificate from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is the highest honor the teaching profession has to bestow. The personal and professional rewards are significant, as most National Board Certification candidates attest. National Board Certified Teachers serve as role models and examples of what it means to be an accomplished teacher. In addition, they enjoy one of the biggest incentives: being recognized as a professional.

In Delaware, the Professional Development and Educator Accountability Act of 2000 authorizes a 12% increase in base pay for a period of ten years for each teacher who receives National Board Certification. Teachers who renew for National Board Certification will also be given the continuing 12% pay increase.

The Delaware Department of Education, current National Board Certified Teachers and the Delaware National Board Certified Teachers Association are involved in supporting candidates. Additionally, the Delaware's State Board of Education offers candidates a stipend of $100 to offset expenses incurred in developing their portfolios and/or preparing for the assessment center.

The 46 nationally certified teachers, alphabetically by school district and name are as follows:

District	Name	School	Certificate*
Brandywine	Kristen Aiello	Mt. Pleasant Elementary	ECYA/ENS
	Sara Jane Dunford	P.S. duPont Elementary	MC/Gen
	Patricia Friel		ECYA/School Counseling
	Wanda Lentz	Concord High	AYA/Science
	Enid Holly VanSuch	Forwood Elementary	EC/Gen
	Bonnie Wilson	P.S. duPont Elementary	EA/Science
Caesar Rodney	Nelle Coleman Cox	Dover Air Force Base Middle	EA/ELA
	Darrell Gravatt	Caesar Rodney High	AYA/SS/History
Cape Henlopen	Vicki Friend	Shields Elementary	MC/Gen
	Terry Kopple	Beacon Middle School	EA/SS/History
	Kathy Lindemer	Savannah Ross Annex	ECYA/Library Media
Capital	Tammy Augustus	North Dover Elementary	MC/Gen
	Cheryl Heslinga	Dover High	AYA/Science
	Eleanor S. Marine	Hartly Elementary	MC/Gen
Charter School	Mary Elizabeth Coté	Charter School of Wilmington	AYA/Math
Christina	Mary Ciamaricone	Kirk Middle	EA/ELA
	Karen R. Dipres	McVey Elementary	EC/Gen
	Kenneth Drier	Delaware Autism Program	ECYA/ENS
	Thomas Lundy	Christiana High	EAYA/CATE
	Judith K. McCord	Marshall Elementary	EC/Gen
	Judi Lee Newman	Wilson Elementary	EC/Gen
	Joan Rubens	McVey Elementary	EC/Gen
Colonial	Elaine Butterfoss	Castle Hills Elementary	EMC/Literacy: RLA
	Kathy Rolland	Southern Elementary	EC/Gen
Indian River	Karen Fabryka	Lord Baltimore Elementary	EC/Gen
	Joanne Gichner	Lord Baltimore Elementary	EC/Gen
	Patrica Jennings	Selbyville Middle	ECYA/ENS
	Clifford Lawson	Sussex Central High	EAYA/CATE
	Wendy Murray	Lord Baltimore Elementary	EC/Gen
	Mary Norton	North Georgetown Elementary	EMC/ENA
	Karen Willey	Sussex Central Middle	EA/ELA
Milford	Linda Braswell	Lulu Ross Elementary	EC/Gen
NCCo Vo-Tech	Jennifer Kennedy	Hodgson Vo-Tech High	ECYA/ENS
	Mary An Scarbrough	Hodgson Vo-Tech High	AYA/ELA
Red Clay	Mary Theresa Caputo	Stanton Middle	EA/Math
	Leslie Grant	Brandywine Springs Elementary	EMC/Music
	David Kelleher	Forest Oak Elementary	EMC/Art
	Deborah Minchini	McKean High	ECYA/School Counseling
	Joanne Monaco	Heritage Elementary	ECYA/ENS
	Lorraine Poling	McKean High	EAYA/Art
Seaford	Thomas Keeton	Seaford High	EAYA/CATE
	Samuel D. Ritts	Seaford High	EAYA/CATE
Smyrna	Angie Lightcap-Hewes	Smyrna High	EAYA/CATE
	Keith Shane	Smyrna High	EAYA/CATE
	Russell Stinson	Smyrna High	EAYA/CATE
Woodbridge	Frederick Brock	Woodbridge High	EAYA/CATE

*Certificate legend is as follows:

AYA	Adolescence and Young Adulthood
CATE	Career And Technical Education
EA	Early Adolescence
EAYA	Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
EC	Early Childhood
ECYA	Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
ELA	English Language Arts
EMC	Early and Middle Childhood
ENA	English as a New Language
ENS	Exceptional Needs Specialist
GEN	Generalist
LM	Library Media
RLA	Reading Language Arts
WLOE	World Language Other than English

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Delaware's Department of Education is committed to promoting the highest quality education for every Delaware student by providing visionary leadership and superior service.	Contact Info. Alison Kepner Delaware Department of Education 401 Federal Street, Suite #2 Dover, Delaware 19901 Phone: (302) 735-4035 Fax: (302) 739-4654 Email: akepner@doe.k12.de.us
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