National Board Certified Teachers In USD 345
by Mike Mathes
January 30, 2008
A recent article in the Topeka Capital Journal focused on teachers in Kansas who have gone through the process to become National Board Certified teachers. This is a rigorous process that takes 2 to 3 years to complete. The process includes what I believe is the best staff development available and that is self-reflection.
So many times we teach a lesson and then simply move on to the next lesson without taking the time to sit down and reflect on how the lesson went. Did we reach our intended goal with the lesson? Did we include every student? Did we have an impact on student learning? What could we have done differently? To be come National Board certified a teacher must video themselves doing several lessons and then reflect on those lessons in writing, take a leadership role with other teachers and much, much more. This certification is based on real life experience and not solely on educational theory.
In the Seaman USD 345 district we are fortunate to have 6 National Board certified teachers on staff with 3 more teachers currently going through the process. Those teachers who have earned the certification are Karen Godfrey, Logan, Susan Swanson, Pleasant Hill, Deb Stewart, Literacy Coach, Vicki Seeger, Literacy Coach, Tonya Campbell, West Indianola, and Patrick Kelly, Seaman. Currently working on their certification are Gena Mathes, Elmont, Stacy Colhouer, Elmont and Kim Zeller, Rochester.
Not only have these teachers spent countless hours honing their professional skills they have also put themselves into positions of leadership within our ranks. As education continues to evolve in the 21st century teachers are being put into more and more leadership roles in the building as well as at the district level.
Our teachers who achieve this certification are given a plaque recognizing their achievement, their picture is put on the Seaman Wall of Fame in the district office, and each receives a $1000 per year stipend from the district for the 10 year length of the certification. We salute our National Board certified teachers.
