18 APS Teachers Earn National Board Certification

The National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) announced that 18 Arlington Public Schools teachers successfully earned their National Board Certification. National Board Certification is a priority for APS. To date, there are more than 200 APS teachers, or 7%, who are a National Board Certified Teachers. The state average is a little more than 4%. APS ranks second in Virginia for the number of National Board Certified teachers.

National Board Certification is a voluntary assessment program that recognizes, encourages and rewards teachers to strive for excellence. While state licensing systems set basic requirements to teach, teachers who earn National Board Certification have successfully demonstrated advanced teaching knowledge, skills and practices as determined by the NBPTS. Certification is achieved through a rigorous, performance-based assessment that typically takes one to three years to complete.

APS recognizes National Board Certification as part of the Career Advancement Program (CAP). CAP participants may choose National Board Certification as one portfolio option to demonstrate achievement of advanced professional skills and knowledge. The process requires teachers to build a portfolio that includes student work samples, assignments, videotapes and a thorough analysis of their classroom teaching. Additionally, teachers are assessed on their knowledge of the subjects they teach.

The teachers who successfully earned their certification are:

• Hope Bolfek, Arlington Career Center – English as a New Language/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
• Maritza Carpenter, Swanson Middle School – World Languages/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
• Abigail Crain, Barrett Elementary School – Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
• Jennifer Everdale, Barcroft Elementary School – Generalist/Middle Childhood
• Jennifer Flores, Barrett Elementary School – English as a New Language/Early and Middle Childhood
• Kimberly Graver, Yorktown High School – Social Studies-History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
• Sharon Harris, Washington-Liberty High School – Mathematics/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
• Jenn Hatch, Key Elementary School – English as a New Language/Early and Middle Childhood
• Mary Ann Hoffman, Carlin Springs Elementary – English as a New Language/Early and Middle Childhood
• Rachel Lampert, Taylor Elementary – School Counseling/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
• David Mower, Yorktown High School – Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
• Jillian Nemeth, Swanson Middle School – Health Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
• Holly Nisco, Carlin Springs Elementary – Library Media/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
• Jamie Odeneal, Arlington Community High School – English as a New Language/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
• Wes Parker, Oakridge Elementary – Generalist/Early Childhood
• Michelle Robinson, Wakefield High School – Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
• Joseph Rubinstein, Arlington Career Center – Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
• Larissa Stewart, Williamsburg Middle School – World Languages/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood

Last month, APS announced that nine APS teachers successfully renewed their certification.

The teachers will be recognized by the School Board at the Feb. 20 meeting beginning with a reception at 6:30 p.m.