News Releases
Thirteen District 15 Teachers Earn National Board Certification
Thirteen 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.
"These accomplished teachers will not only strengthen the teaching profession, they will also help our students achieve at higher academic levels," says NBPTS Chair Barbara Kelley. "I salute this year's candidates and our new National Board Certified Teachers. I thank the families, the schools, the school districts and the universities that supported these teachers in their efforts to achieve National Board Certification."
The accomplishment of these 13 teachers brings the total number of board-certified teachers in District 15 to 40, giving the district one of the highest numbers of board-certified teachers anywhere in the state of Illinois. They were among just 222 teachers in Illinois to earn certification this year, bringing the Illinois total to 569. Nationwide, 7,886 teachers earned certification this year, bringing the national total to 23,930.
The District 15 teachers who earned certification this year and their schools are:
Mark Baker (Walter R. Sundling Junior High)
Paula Bullis (Virginia Lake)
Sue Bolger (Lake Louise)
Sharman Galezewski (Jane Addams)
Nancy Hyrczyk (Pleasant Hill)
Lisa Jauch (Lake Louise)
Alessandra Kennedy (Thomas Jefferson)
Mary Beth Landerman (Thomas Jefferson)
Anthony Leva (Winston Campus)
Elizabeth Lightfoot (Gray M. Sanborn)
Sandra Martinelli (retired)
Steve Marquis (Virginia Lake)
Sonnie Sonday-Penkava (Walter R. Sundling Junior High)
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