Delaware Receive National Board Certification
Top Honor Brings Total to 297 in First State
Dover, Del.–December 2, 2005 The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) has released the names of 7,300 teachers,among them 48 Delaware teachers, who have attained the highest professional credential—National Board Certification—for the 2005-2006 school year.
The 48 teachers, representing 12 of Delaware’s 19 school districts, one charter school and one private school,brings to 297 the total of Delaware teachers who have earned this prestigious honor since the national program began during the 1993-1994 school year.
“The distinction of being identified as National Board Certified is one of the great achievementsof the teaching profession,” said Secretary of Education Valerie A. Woodruff. “These teachers have worked so hard and sacrificed so much to reach this honor.I personally want to congratulate each of our newly-selected National Board Certified Teacherson a tremendous 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 portfoliowhich illustrates evidence of good teaching practice as well as demonstratinghow their teaching meets the advanced standards in their fields. There is a high emphasis on student achievement in each of the entries. The portfolio is prepared according to instructions provided by the National Boardand contains videotapes of classroom teaching, lesson plans, student work samplesand written commentaries by each candidate that explains in detail what he or she is doing, why,and how it impacts student learning.
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 learningand a teacher’s subject matter knowledge. Again, there is a heavy concentrationon how the work will increase student achievement and the ability of the teacher to analyze, in depth,the work samples of the students. The entire assessment process takes nearly an entire school year,with each candidate spending nearly 300 hours on assessment activities.
A certificate from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is a hallmark honor.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% increasein 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 and current National Board Certified Teachers are involved in supporting candidates.The Delaware Higher Education Commission offers interest-free loans to offset costs associatedwith the certification process. Additionally, Delaware’s State Board of Education offers candidatesa stipend of $100 to offset expenses incurred in developing their portfolios and/or preparingfor the assessment center.
This year, the Milford School District had a 100% pass rate,which far surpasses the national pass rate of approximately 48%.
| District | Candidate | School | Certificate* |
| Appoquinmink | Maria Gregors | Reading Middle | ECYA/Library Media |
| Veronica Perrine | Middletown High | EAYA/Music | |
| Brandywine | Margaret Alexander | Maple Lane Elementary | Library/Media |
| Jane Blessing | Carrcroft Elementary | EC/Generalist | |
| Kathleen Gilbert | Springer Middle | EA/English Language Arts | |
| Mary E. Paris | Talley Middle | ECYA/Library Media | |
| Teryl Price | Maple Lane Elementary | ECYA/School Counseling | |
| Jill Shute | Springer Middle | EA/Math | |
| Teresa Walton | Brandywine High | EAYA/Art | |
| Caesar Rodney | Andrea Haynes | Fred Fifer Middle | ECYA/Exceptional Needs |
| Jane Stewart | Simpson Elementary | ECYA/Library Media | |
| Cape Henlopen | William Geppert | Cape Henlopen High | AYA/Science |
| John Hilton | Cape Henlopen High | AYA/Science | |
| Wendy Harrington | Milton Elementary | MC/Generalist | |
| Capital | Mary Jo Benson | Dover High | AYA/Math |
| Bartholemew Smoot | Central Middle | EAYA/Career & Tech Ed | |
| Christina | Amy Bromall | Brader Elementary | EC/Generalist |
| Mercedes DuNunzio | Brookside Elementary | ECYA/Library Media | |
| Richard Frenez | Christina High | EAYA/Career & Tech Ed | |
| Heather Goff | Keene Elementary | EMC/Literacy | |
| Carly Henry | Gauger-Cobbs Middle | ECYA/Exceptional Needs | |
| Christina James | Bayard Elementary | MC/Generalist | |
| Chris Kohan | Glasgow High | AYA/Social Studies | |
| David Kohan | Glasgow High | AYA/Science | |
| Crystal Lancor | Gauger-Cobbs Middle | EA/Math | |
| Rosario Macrea | Shue-Medill Middle | EAYA/Music | |
| Diane Nichols | McVey Elementary | EMC/Literacy: Reading/ELA | |
| Karen Nowell | Marshall Elementary | EC/Generalist | |
| Donna Reed | Newark High | ECYA/Library Media | |
| Janet Shaw | Shue-Medill Middle | ECYA/Library Media | |
| Marissa Tenebruso | Leasure Elementary | MC/Generalist | |
| Colonial | Heather Tamminen | Colwyck Elementary | ECYA/Exceptional Needs |
| Indian River | Terri Clausen | East Millsboro Elementary | MC/Generalist |
| Jennifer Campbell | East Millsboro Elementary | MC/Generalist | |
| Heather Rodriguez-Costa | North Georgetown Elementary | MC/Generalist | |
| Tara Thoroughgood | East Millsboro Elementary | MC/Generalist | |
| Milford | Veronica Evans | Milford High | AYA/Social Studies |
| Barbara Fitzpatrick | Lulu M. Ross Elementary | ECYA/Library Media | |
| Ramsay Kieffer | Bannecker Elementary | MC/Generalist | |
| Laurie Moorman | Bannecker Elementary | ECYA/Exceptional Needs | |
| Joyce Nauman | Milford Middle | EA/Science | |
| POLYTECH | Susan Wujtewicz | POLYTECH High | EAYA/Career & Tech Ed |
| Seaford | Patricia Keeton | Seaford High | EAYA/Career & Tech Ed |
| Amy Pearson | West Seaford Elementary | MC/Generalist | |
| Alison Tingle | Blades Elementary | EC/Generalist | |
| Sussex Tech | Sabrina Neal | Sussex Technical High | EAYA/Career & Tech Ed |
| Charter School | Patti Sandy | Campus Community High | EC/Generalist |
| Private School | Susan Peters | Tatnall School | EC/Generalist |
| AYA | Adolescence and Young Adulthood |
| 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 |
| MC | Middle Childhood |
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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.
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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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