Ten Valley teachers earn national certification
December 9, 2009
By Laura Geggel
Even as they teach, many teachers have a strong desire to continue their education. After a rigorous learning process, 10 Snoqualmie Valley School District teachers earned National Board Certification in 2009, bringing the total number of certified teachers in the district to 16.
“It had a huge challenge this year,” said Chief Kanim Middle School teacher Allison Means. “On top of all of that, I was pregnant, as well.”
Snoqualmie Valley teacher Gayle Smith, who has already earned her certification, works at the University of Washington to help other teachers earn theirs. Gayle explained the benefits of getting certification. New Washington teachers are issued a residency certificate and have five to seven years to get a professional certificate. One route, the professional certification program, requires teachers to prepare portfolios, pass a professional certificate assessment and pay $500.
The other route, earning national board certification, is more challenging but more financially rewarding.
Teachers pay $2,500 to apply for certification, and Snoqualmie Valley School District reimburses them for up to $1,000 of the expense, once it has been achieved. Teachers need to renew their certification every decade.
Certified teachers submit a stack of material, including a four-part portfolio and six exercises, relating to their subject content and teaching. A national panel of peers assesses each application.
Though difficult, earning certification has it perks. Washington awards certified teachers with an extra $5,000 annually.
“I just got engaged in July. I’m now planning a wedding and I can use the money,” joked third-grade Cascade View teacher Melanie Culver, who said her board certification is a badge for her hard work.
“It’s one thing to think you’re really competent and professional, but it’s another thing to have that assurance from the national board,” Culver said.
She said she has wanted to be a teacher for as long as she could remember. After getting her teaching degree from Western Washington University and her master’s in reading and literacy from City University of Seattle, she was ready for another challenge.
“When teachers are learning, the students are always learning,” Culver said. “I like to be a model of that lifelong learning.”
For of the portfolio, teachers had to video tape a lesson and a small-group interaction and analyze its contents. Means said viewing the videotape improved her teaching.
In the tape, Means noticed only a select few students regularly participated in class.
“In my head I knew it was the same few kids participating,” she said, “but in going through the process and seeing the kids participating I had to face it.”
Now, to boost involvement, she has students form groups and write their answers on note cards.
Another part of the portfolio required teachers to describe their community involvement. Culver recounted how she hosted a literacy night for 50 families.
“One parent left an inspiring comment that said I made her a better reader,” Culver said.
North Bend teacher Shari Myers said she regularly invites community artists and professionals into her classroom for presentations and organizes projects, such as encouraging her fourth graders to play math games with kindergartners.
Overall, the teachers said they were glad they spent the last year earning their certificates.
Studies have shown teachers with certification get positive results in the classroom. Students learning from certificated teachers tend to perform better on standardized tests compared to their peers learning from non-certificated teachers. Certified teachers are more likely to create engaging lesson plans, as well.
“I love working with the kids and trying to create new things and do new things,” Means said. “A large part of national boards is reflecting.”
Laura Geggel: 392-6434 ext. 221 or lgeggel@snovalleystar.com.
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