When Teachers Become Test-takers –40 Northern Idaho Educators Achieve National Certification
Wednesday, December 20 2000
Dec. 20, 2000^^Contact: Jerry Tuchscherer, College of Education, (208) 885-7456, jerryt@uidaho.edu or Leslie Einhaus, University Communications and Marketing, (208) 885-6489, lesliee@uidaho.edu ^^When Teachers Become Test-takers – 40 Northern Idaho Educators Achieve National Certification^^MOSCOW – Each year, teachers across the country take on the characteristics of their wide-eyed counterparts – writing, analyzing, critiquing and formulating ideas. They are participating in what some have called the "ultimate professional development experience."^^The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) has named 40 educators throughout northern Idaho who have made the grade and earned National Board Certification, one of the highest professional credentials in the field of teaching. They join 163 teachers statewide who have earned this recognition the past three years and nearly 9,500 colleagues around the nation. In Idaho, teachers will receive a $2,000 bonus per year for the first five years of the ten-year certification. ^^The University of Idaho and Lewis-Clark State College provided mentoring to the northern Idaho educators during the year-long process, which includes an extensive portfolio, videotapes documenting classroom experiences and a six-hour exam. "It is one of the most intensive processes for teaching professionals, and I am glad so many of Idaho’s educators are dedicated to the task. It has proven to be the ultimate professional development opportunity," said Jerry Tuchscherer, associate dean of graduate studies in the UI College of Education. ^^Idaho is ranked among the top 10 states nationwide with the highest number of teachers receiving national accreditation. The state’s success in recruiting NBPTS candidates is due in part to the North Idaho Partnership, a cooperative effort by UI and LCSC – funded by the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation – which offers mentoring as well as technical and financial support to qualified candidates.^^Teachers must have at least three years of experience before they can apply to become nationally certified. The program is offered on a voluntary basis, complementing – not replacing– state licensing. ^^The experience was a growing experience professionally as well as socially. "The teachers in these school districts – like Coeur d’Alene and Lewiston – created relationships with each other that might not have occurred otherwise," Tuchscherer said. ^^Recipients are: BONNERS FERRY Tama Bergstrand, Wendy Seley, Judy Wages COEUR D’ALENE Barbara Crow, Michelle Faucher-Sharples, Nancy Mueller, Andrea Partington, Charlene Soucy, Beth Wright FENN Sue Crea-Fox GENESEE Meg Booth, Tauna Johnson GRANGEVILLE Janet Anderson HAYDEN LAKE Lynne Peters KAMIAH Linda Burnside LEWISTON Patricia Arthur, Carol Coleman, Lana Einhaus, Fran Harris, Tom Leachman, Rachel Lyon, Jody Dickeson, Andrea Wagner LIBERTY LAKE, WASH. Vicky Boyd MOSCOW Susan Hodgin, Jim LaFortune, Dan Leonard, Mary Liz Mattoon, Carolyn Tragesser PALOUSE, WASH. Teresa Myott POTLATCH Janice Hargrave PRINCETON Jeanette Rogers, Sharon Beidler RATHDRUM Liz Fox, Elaine Tobin SPIRIT LAKE Kathy Gray, Colleen Vyleta Thomson ST. MARIES Laurie Martin ST. GEORGE, UTAH Betty Steele TROY Debbie LeBlanc -30- le-12/20/00/EDU^
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The University of Idaho helps students to succeed and become leaders. Its land-grant mission furthers innovative scholarly and creative research to grow Idaho's economy and serve a statewide community. From its main campus in Moscow, Idaho, to 70 research and academic locations statewide, U-Idaho emphasizes real-world application as part of its student experience. U-Idaho combines the strength of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. It is home to the Vandals. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu.