3 area teachers earn national certification

The region had 12
teachers achieve the
national certification
last year.

By HAROLD GWIN

VINDICATOR EDUCATON WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — Three area school teachers have joined the ranks of National Board Certified Teachers, the highest credential awarded in the teaching profession.

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards has announced the members of its Class of 2007, bringing the number of teachers in the United States who have achieved the National Board Certification to more than 63,000.

The three local teachers are among 8,500 to achieve the honor nationally this year.

They are Lisa Foster, an exception needs specialist/early childhood through young adulthood teacher in the Campbell City schools; Amy Javens, a generalist/early childhood teacher in the Sharon City schools; and Richard Samora, also a generalist/early childhood teacher in the Sharon City schools.

The certifications are good for 10 years

This region had 12 teachers make the list in 2006.

Certification is a voluntary process involving an intensive, performance-based assessment that typically takes more than a year and sometimes as many as three years to complete. It measures what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do.

Candidates must submit portfolios of pupil work, classroom videotapes, evaluations and other documentation to affirm their knowledge of the subject they teach, as well as their ability to teach effectively and measure pupil learning.

The process also includes a lengthy comprehensive exam focusing on classroom practices, pupil assessment and the teacher’s subject area. Certification candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree and have at least three years of classroom experience.

Teachers who earn this advanced teaching credential are considered to be among the best qualified in the nation to improve instruction, raise pupil achievement and improve teaching practices in their classrooms, schools and districts.

Pupils of board-certified teachers achieve at levels of 7 to 15 percentage points higher, according to one study.

Ohio had 137 teachers certified with the Class of 2007, while Pennsylvania had 67.

Ohio now has 2,759 of its 117,000 teachers certified, ranking fifth nationwide among the 50 states. Ohio teachers who achieved National Board Certification this year will receive an incentive of $1,000 a year for 10 years from the state. Pennsylvania doesn’t offer a similar reward.

Only 369 of Pennsylvania’s 120,000 teachers have secured that certification, and the state has launched a $1.2 million program designed to help get an additional 500 teachers through the process. It provides $1,250 stipends to cover 50 percent of certification costs for up to 500 candidates and intensive support for those going through the certification process.

gwin@vindy.com