The Gold Standard of Teaching — and Four Educators Who Earned It

Teaching is hard. Teaching at the highest level is harder. National Board Certification is the profession's most respected credential — a rigorous, multi-year process that pushes educators to examine, document, and demonstrate their practice at a level far beyond what any standard license requires. Less than 4% of teachers nationwide hold it. In the Wenatchee School District, approximately 20% of teachers hold National Board Certification.

The district has a long-standing reputation for high certification rates and was officially recognized by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards as a National Board Accomplished District.

At Tuesday's school board meeting, Director of Learning and Teaching Amber Birks recognized Shawna Gardner, Ann Young, Tamara Honeycutt, and Michael Lasater for achieving National Board Certification — joining an elite group of educators who have voluntarily held their practice up to the highest standard in the profession.

National Board Certification isn't handed out. It's earned through deep reflection, rigorous evidence, and a commitment to continuous growth that doesn't stop when the school day ends. For students, it means learning from teachers who don't just meet the bar — they set it.

Wenatchee School District is proud of these four educators and grateful for the standard they set for our students, our schools, and our whole community.