21 teachers earn most respected professional certification in K-12 education
February 14, 2022
Three teachers in Richland Two showed their deep commitment to students and the teaching profession by earning National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) Certification, which is recognized as the “gold standard” in teacher certification. Eighteen additional teachers renewed their National Board Certification. The renewals range between five and 10 years. While certification is a rewarding professional development experience for teachers, there is also a very tangible outcome. These teachers will receive $5,000 annually from the district and an additional $5,000 from the state for the life of their certificate. With these newly certified teachers, Richland Two employs 323 teachers with the distinction of earning National Board Certification.
Teachers earning certification for the first time include: Shelli L. M. Franco, Dent Middle School;
Isabel Ramos, Bookman Road Elementary School; and Christina Stout, Jackson Creek Elementary School.
Teachers who successfully renewed their National Board Certification include: Johnathan L. Abney, Windsor Elementary School; Joan Carter-Morgan, Pontiac Elementary School; Josh Drews, Spring Valley High School; Dr. Jean D. Greene, Ridge View High School; Stacey Brown Higgins, Forest Lake Elementary NASA Explorer School; Kelli Simone Rembert, Richland Two Institute of Innovation (R2i2) Student Center; Shayla Hicks Stephens, Dent Middle School; Heather Alexander, Pontiac Elementary School; Jason Ashley, North Springs Elementary School; Angela H. Brazil, Muller Road Middle School; Elizabeth Dew, Summit Parkway Middle School; Rebekah Garbett, Summit Parkway Middle School; Amanda D. Goodwin, Westwood High School; Wendy Harris-Young, Killian Elementary School; Jennifer W. McClinton, Rice Creek Elementary School; Dr. Yolanda Smith-Charlestin, Richland Northeast High School; Makesia Butler Sumpter, Dent Middle School; and Lisa C. Wiley, Summit Parkway Middle School.
According to NBPTS, their founding mission is to advance the quality of teaching and learning by: maintaining high and rigorous standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do; providing a national voluntary system certifying teachers who meet these standards; and advocating related education reform to integrate National Board Certification in American education and to capitalize on the expertise of National Board Certified Teachers.
