Kent School District staff members receive National Board Certification

The Kent School Board recognized 23 district staff members at its Feb. 24 meeting who have received the National Board Certification.

Recipients include 17 teachers and counselors who recently achieved certification through the National Board Certified Teachers. Six staff members received certification as Educational Support Associates (ESAs), which includes speech and language pathologists and school psychologists.

ESA certification required completion of a rigorous program in their area of expertise.

The certification process for teachers involves a demonstration of the candidate’s teaching practice through a two-part assessment: a portfolio of videotaped classroom teaching and lesson plans. They also submitted student work samples to show the teacher’s impact on student learning and a demonstration of subject-area knowledge, classroom practices, curriculum design and student learning through a written assessment.

Candidates typically invest 200-400 hours in portfolio activities. The school district partners with the Kent Education Association to provide support for teachers who pursue the certification process.

With the addition of 23 recipients this year, the district has 247 national board certified staff members.

CERTIFICATION RECIPIENTS

Teachers

• Shawna Behrens, Kentlake High Schoool

• Brandi Bielefeld, Meadow Ridge Elementary

• Celeste Borowiak Timulak, Scenic Hill Elementary

• Linda Buchanan, Springbrook Elementary

• Sara Den Herder, Daniel Elementary

• Breanne Devlin, Kent-Meridian High

• Alison Fraiman, Glenridge Elementary

• Amy Gerdes, Mill Creek Middle

• David Moore, Kentlake

• Kristine Murphy, Meridian Middle

• Jessica Pizzalato, Kentlake

• Stephen Rush, Kent-Meridian

• Adam Skagen, Kent-Meridian

• Gaylene Smith, Meadow Ridge

• Brenda Transier, Kentwood High

• Cynthia Vangor, Kent Phoenix Academy

Counselor

• Deborah White Price

Speech and language pathologist

• Emily Reiley

School psychologists

• Meridith Cubbin

• Shana Heavey

• Rebekah Hereth

• Kaitlin Hudson

• Todd Paavola