FROM STAFF REPORTS

Shelby County Schools celebrated the official announcement of 14 new National Board Certified Teachers, an accomplishment that is a testament of the educators’ work ethic, professionalism and dedication to student achievement.

National Board Certification is a voluntary teaching credential, which goes beyond state licensure. It focuses on advanced standards for all teachers—what they should know and be able to accomplish in their classrooms.

It is a lengthy and rigorous process where candidates have to demonstrate accomplished practice in four components—content knowledge, differentiation in instruction, teaching practice and learning environment, and being an effective and reflective practitioner.

The content knowledge component is a computer-based exam taken at a testing center, while the other three components are shown through portfolios of work submitted by the candidates.

According to Dr. Angela Walker, coordinator of instruction, the recent success of these Shelby County teachers to earn national board certification is credited to additional support the district is now giving candidates who are willing to go through the process. This includes support from the Shelby County Schools Education Foundation, which provides funding for each candidate to participate in an NBCT Mentor program at the University of Montevallo In-Service Center.

Additionally, the Shelby County Schools Education Foundation provides a $475 competitive grant to assist with the financial aspects of the process, which costs about $1,900 to complete in its entirety.

The Education Foundation awards four grants to the top scoring grant overall, as well as the top scorers from the elementary, middle and high school grade spans.

The Shelby County School District also provides three days of professional development training to assist candidates through the process and holds an NBCT conference to provide opportunities for collaboration.

The following teachers achieved NBCT status:

• Sara Askew, Oak Mountain Elementary School
• Laura Barnes, Helena High School
• Lisa Carden, Shelby Elementary School
• Paula Crosby, Helena Intermediate School
• Hailey Fant, Elvin Hill Elementary School
• Michele Griswold, Shelby Elementary School
• Kasey Hollington, Oak Mountain High School
• Sydney Howard, Oak Mountain Elementary School
• Angelita Jarrell, Helena Intermediate School
• Tonya Littlejohn, Montevallo Elementary School
• Jason Mayfield, Columbiana Middle School
• Amanda Miller, Helena Intermediate School
• Kelly Stanton, Shelby Elementary School
• Sara Stewart, Oak Mountain Middle School/Oak Mountain High School