This year, 17 teachers in the Sumner School District earned national board certification, a nationally accepted sign of quality in the teaching profession. This certification program offers a nationwide standard for evaluating and encouraging quality teaching.

Districtwide 63 teachers have earned certification through this rigorous program, a number reflecting approximately 13 percent of the teaching staff.

The newest board certified teachers in the Sumner School District: Nick Seavello, Allison Sheldon, Tricia Littlefield, Kelly Denn, Dasha Berry, Janine Sather, Monica Swigart, Shirley Baker, Brenda Kuehlthau, Callie Birklid, Frank Hasiak, Gabrielle Wright, Josh Gaydos, Emily Wojciechowicz (Redfairn), Damon DeLapp, Annette Bowen, and Lindy Browning.

National Board Certification is available nationwide for most pre-K–12 teachers, and is an advanced teaching credential, valid for up to 10 years. Candidates complete 10 assessments that are reviewed by trained teachers in their certificate areas. The assessments include four portfolio entries that feature teaching practice and six constructed-response exercises that assess content knowledge.

NBPTS standards are based on the Five Core Propositions that form the foundation for what all accomplished teachers should know and be able to do and provide a reference that helps educators link teaching standards to teaching practices. The Five Core Propositions are:

• Teachers are committed to students and their learning;

• Teachers know subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to students;

• Teachers are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning;

• Teachers think systematically about their practice and learn from experience; and

• Teachers are members of learning communities.

For more information on the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, visit www.nbpts.org.