Eight Wisconsin Teachers Earn National Certification
Eight Wisconsin teachers are among more than 2,000 teachers nationally
who earned certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching
Standards in 1999, the NBPTS announced Monday (November 22, 1999).
Certification is a voluntary process involving a rigorous performance-based
assessment. It has become a prestigious step for many teachers in their
quest for professional growth and quality schools.
“Wisconsin should be proud of the accomplishments and hard work
of our eight newly certified teachers,” WEAC President Terry Craney
said. “They spent many hours of their own time working for certification
in order to continue Wisconsin’s tradition of great teachers in great
schools.”
The eight who achieved certification are:
- Maryanne Frawley, Amery – Early adolescence / English
language arts
- Linda Reetz, Berlin – Early childhood / generalist
- Robert Hetzel, Madison – Early adolescence / mathematics
- Karla Jenkins, Osceola – Middle childhood / generalist
- Catherine Anderson, Osseo – Early adolescence / science
- Jayne Heffron, Shorewood – Middle childhood / generalist
- Karla Mullen, Watertown – Adolescence and young adulthood
/ English language arts
- Mary Carol Kellogg, West Bend – Early adolescence / English
language arts
They join Wisconsin’s two previously certified teachers, Andrew
Kuemmel of Edgerton and Laurine Karstens of Onalaska, who provided guidance
and support to prospective candidates at WEAC-sponsored workshops this
year.
“Our hope is that the newly certified teachers will join Kuemmel
and Karstens in helping candidates through the certification process next
year,” Craney said. “We expect many more to work for their certification
as a way to become involved in enhancing teaching skills and supporting
quality schools.”
WEAC provides grants and offers seminars to assist teachers seeking certification.
NEA, DPI, and the NBPTS also provide financial assistance. (See OnWEAC
resource page on national certification.)
Monday's announcement brings the current number of National Board Certified
Teachers to 4,799.
The year-long process requires extensive written and videotaped documentation
of instruction inside the classroom, as well as evaluations, portfolios
and tests. Most teachers spend more than 100 hours applying for board
certification, which averages out to about one day a week over a semester.
"National Board certification enhances teachers' skills, increases
our stature, and improves the education of children," said NEA President
Bob Chase. "I am proud that so many of our members, already overburdened
in their classrooms, chose to seek this national recognition and validation
of their abilities."
Last year NEA embarked on a campaign to increase the number of teachers
holding National Board Certification. The ongoing effort includes educational
materials, workshops and mentoring assistance to recruit new candidates.
Posted November 22, 1999