Four educators at Eastside Catholic School have earned their National Board Certification. They are: Justyna King, high school vice principal; Tara Maloney, high school science; Megan McDermott, high school art; and Erin Vickers, middle school science.
“National Board Certification sets high standards for what teachers should know and be able to do as accomplished educators,” said Eastside Catholic School Principal Polly Skinner. “Enhancing student achievement is the ultimate outcome of earning this advanced teacher credential.”
National Board Certification (NBCT) is an advanced teaching credential and is predicated on a teacher’s ability and commitment to five core areas:
- Commitment to students and their learning
- Knowledge of the subjects they teach and how to teach these subjects to students
- Responsibility for managing and monitoring student learning
- Systematic approaches regarding teaching practices an continuous improvement as a teacher
- Membership in professional learning communities
“Eastside Catholic School has encouraged and supported its teachers to pursue NBCT to become proficient in the five core areas of teaching,” said Skinner. “Our teachers have become highly accomplished and meet rigorous standards that ensure student success through this process.”
In addition to the four newly certified teachers, three other Eastside Catholic School teachers have previously received their National Board Certification: Melissa Blender, high school science; Danielle Maletta, high school math and robotics; and Karen Mathewson, middle school science.
A significant amount of time and energy is necessary to complete the National Board Certification. Over and above a teacher’s typical work load, the NBCT process requires teachers to analyze their teaching context and students’ needs, submit videos of their teaching and provide student work samples that demonstrate growth and achievement.
Applicants must also submit a reflective analysis that demonstrates a strong command of content, showcases their ability to design appropriate learning experiences that advance student learning and illustrates the use of assessments to inform instructional decision making and partnerships with colleagues, parents and the community. The process typically takes more than a year to complete.
