News Releases
Twenty-one District 15 Teachers Earn National Board Certification
Twenty-one elementary and junior high school teachers from Community Consolidated School District 15 have been notified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) that they have earned National Board Certification, the highest teaching credential available.
“We are delighted that so many District 15 teachers have earned this prestigious credential this year,” stated Dr. John G. Conyers, superintendent of District 15. “National board certification clearly demonstrates that they are among the best and most dedicated teachers, and we are fortunate to have them. District 15 is committed to continuous improvement, and the certification process is a powerful self-evaluation tool that helps teachers find ways to improve their own competence.”
NBPTS certification is a voluntary, performance-based assessment that takes nearly a year to complete. The assessment process requires candidates to document their subject matter knowledge, provide evidence that they know how to teach students effectively, and demonstrate their ability to manage and measure student learning. Throughout the school year, certification candidates assemble a portfolio that includes videotapes of classroom interactions, samples of student work, and reflective commentary on the evidence. Candidates also document their education-related work outside the classroom. Trained NBPTS evaluators who teach in the same field as the candidates judge all components of the assessments.
“Research has shown that a quality teacher is the most significant factor on how well a child learns,” notes NBPTS President Betty Castor. “Our new cadre of National Board Certified Teachers tells us we're making excellent progress when it comes to ensuring top quality teaching for our students in every school in the country.”
The accomplishment of these 21 teachers brings the total number of board-certified teachers in District 15 to 31, giving the district one of the highest numbers of board-certified teachers anywhere in the state of Illinois. They were among just 163 teachers in Illinois to earn certification this year, bringing the Illinois total to 352. Nationwide, 6,500 teachers earned certification this year, bringing the national total to 16,035.
The District 15 teachers who earned certification this year and their schools are:
Paul Behen, Winston Campus
Amy Berry, Pleasant Hill
Stewart Bond, Plum Grove Junior High
Jennifer Buehler, Sundling Junior High
Valentina Butzky, Kimball Hill
Kristie Charles, Hunting Ridge
Beth Cooper, Winston Campus
Lindsey Dahl, Marion Jordan
Lori Durchslag, Jane Addams
Pam DuSold, Pleasant Hill
Barb Grisaffe, Willow Bend
Connie Heavey, Plum Grove Junior High
Christy Jensby, Pleasant Hill
Jessie Kalinowski, on loan to the Illinois State Board of Education
Lyn Kuehnel, Thomas Jefferson
Karen Larson, Plum Grove Junior High
Jeanne Marino, Hunting Ridge
Kathy Mix, Frank C. Whiteley
Adrianne Myers, Marion Jordan
Mary Salsinger, Pleasant Hill
Jake Schlender, Winston Campus
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