Wenatchee Educators Earn National Board Certification

Wenatchee School District has two new National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT), bringing the total in the district to 115. Twelve more WSD educators were NBCT recertified. National Board Certification is the highest and most rigorous certification process for teaching in the nation.

Certifications listed below were completed during 2020-2021 and may include WSD teachers who have retired or are no longer employed by the district. 

New NBCT Certified Teachers

• Keri Marino, Foothills Middle School 
• Annette Mueller, Lincoln Elementary School

Recertified Teachers

• Janet Albin-Bullock, WestSite High School 
• Janna Bjork, Washington Elementary School
• Maria Chang-Marr, Mission View Elementary School
• Chris Cloke, Wenatchee High School
• Mary Doerr, Lincoln Elementary School
• Christopher Ferrians, Wenatchee High School
• Karissa Harle, Pioneer Middle School
• Brandon Harle, Wenatchee High School
• Adam MacDonald, Wenatchee High School
• Kevin Parr, Lincoln Elementary School
• Jill Reinfeld, Washington Elementary School
• Patricia Shea Cone, Columbia Elementary School

“We have exceptional teachers in our school district and we congratulate our newly certified staff for achieving this distinction,” said Wenatchee School District Superintendent, Dr. Paul Gordon. “National Board Certification benefits our students through high-quality instruction. It helps our teachers develop a deeper knowledge of learning and equips them with the tools they need to ensure students are future-ready.” 

Achieving national board certification is a rigorous and time-intensive process. The process can take anywhere from one to four years and includes four segments: teacher knowledge assessment; analyzing student work and setting goals based on that analysis; classroom management with filmed scenarios; and collaboration with teachers, parents, community members. The entire process takes about 300 to 400 hours to complete.

More than a decade of research from across the country confirms that students taught by National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) learn more than students taught by other teachers. Estimates of the increase in learning are on the order of an additional one to two months of instruction and the positive impact is even greater for high-need students.

About the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (www.nbpts.org):

The founding mission of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards 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 reforms to integrate National Board Certification in American education and to capitalize on the expertise of National Board Certified Teachers. Recognized as the “gold standard” in teacher certification, the National Board believes higher standards for teachers means better learning for students.