SE Valley Times

Kyrene School District has announced the achievement of six teachers who have obtained National Board Certification, a top professional honor in education. This certification is provided by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). Additionally, one teacher has renewed their certification, bringing the district's total number of certified teachers to 25.

The newly certified teachers include Jenna Aguinaga, Rochelle Cotela, Raquel Ellis, Suzanne Maki, Sarah Manchester, and Jessica Van Oostrom. Michelle Ang successfully renewed her certification.

Sarah Manchester commented on her accomplishment: “Becoming a National Board Certified Teacher is ultimately about my students. I want to show up for them every day. Completing my national boards prompted me to reflect on my practice making me a more effective and aware educator for them.”

Raquel Ellis shared her experience: “I am so happy that I went through the NBCT process. Going through this strengthened my ability to pay meticulous attention to detail in planning for instruction and delivering lessons. From the beginning, I appreciated the personalized support from my mentors at the K-12 Center, who empowered me to make this journey my own. I am incredibly humbled and honored to join our exceptional group of NBCTs here in Kyrene.”

Dr. Jo Shurman, Director of Professional Growth and Development, emphasized the impact of this certification: “Engaging in the process to become a National Board Certified teacher changes the way you think about what decisions you make each day and the impact those decisions have on the children in front of you. It changes the way you think and makes you a better teacher."

National Board Certification involves a rigorous assessment of teaching skills and content knowledge over one to three years. This certification signifies advanced teaching abilities similar to expert certifications in other fields like law and medicine.

For more details on Kyrene’s certified teachers or information about the program itself, visit www.kyrene.org/nbct.