Thirty-one Issaquah teachers have earned their National Board Certifications, one of the highest designations of professional excellence in the nation. This group brings the district’s total number of NBC staff to 155.

Issaquah is among the top 15 districts in the nation for the number of teachers earning certification in 2014. Washington State also has the highest total number of newly certified teachers in the Nation with 946 receiving certification this year.

The Issaquah Schools Foundation and the Issaquah School District support NBC candidates by awarding grants up to $2,675 to enable more teachers to reach the milestone.

The teachers who earned certification this year are: Erin Armstrong, Maywood Middle School; Carolyn Borcherding, Issaquah High School; Jane Brammer, Issaquah Valley Elementary School; Jaclynn Claudon, Issaquah High School; Erin Connolly, Issaquah High School; John Gardiner, Liberty High School; Laura Garrigues, Challenger Elementary School; Carrie Granados, Issaquah Valley Elementary School; Kelly Gregory, Skyline High School; Marcine Grossman, Issaquah High School; and

Allison Gullingsrud, Issaquah Valley Elementary School; Kristi Hardy, Issaquah High School; Melissa Hirshberg, Newcastle Elementary School; Ellen Jarvinen, Issaquah High School; Kelsey Jensen, Sunny Hills Elementary School; Jennifer Johnson, Creekside Elementary School; Mariel Laughlin, Newcastle Elementary School; Hana Lee, Skyline High School; Henry Level, Liberty High School; Carlee Lilly, Issaquah Valley Elementary School; Colleen Maher, Pine Lake Middle School; Megan Norman, Creekside Elementary School; and

William Paananen, Skyline High School; Kelly Rolon, Skyline High School; Lauren Roon, Pine Lake Middle School; Hearan Shim, Skyline High School; Melissa Skone, Creekside Elementary School; Tyson Swiftney, Skyline High School; Meagan Turner, Skyline High School; Denise Waters, Issaquah Valley Elementary; Emily Young, Issaquah High School; and Danielle Zelinski, Issaquah High School.