Hawaii leads nation in growth of National Board Certified teachers
Over the past three years, Hawaii has experienced the fastest growth in the number of National Board Certified Teachers in the nation.
News Release from Hawaii DoE 16-Dec-2013
HONOLULU — The Hawaii State Department of Education (DOE), Kamehameha Schools and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) announced today that 59 teachers in Hawaii achieved National Board Certification this year, demonstrating that they have attained the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare students for 21st century success.
Over the past three years, Hawaii has experienced the fastest growth in the number of National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) in the nation and now has a total of 469 NBCTs.
To date, more than 106,000 teachers in all 50 states and around the world have achieved National Board Certification, which is considered the highest mark of accomplishment in the profession. It includes a rigorous, performance-based, peer-review process similar to Board certification in fields such as medicine.
"We’re thrilled to celebrate the achievement of our new NBCTs," said Schools Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi. "Their achievement is not only a testament to their hard work, determination and impact on their students’ learning, it is a reflection of Hawaii’s strong commitment to supporting all teachers in their pursuit of National Board Certification."
The 2013 NBCT renewals are:
- Debbie Anderson, Waiakea Intermediate
- Laura Brown, Pearl Ridge Elementary
- Karen deBrum, Lanai High and Elementary
- Laurie Flores, Hauula Elementary
- Michael Ida, Kalani High
- Tracey Idica, Aiea High
- Linda Seals, Wahiawa Intermediate
- Kimberly Tadaki, Holomua Elementary
- Joanne Thompson, Kilauea Elementary
- Gail Van De Verg, Heeia Elementary
- Kara Yasui, Holomua Elementary
New NBCTs in 2013 are:
- Nicholas Barry, Iroquois Point Elementary
- Lissa Bastedo-Penner, Kamehameha III Elementary
- Decy Belmonte, Ahrens Elementary
- Mary Berger, Kailua High
- Nicole Blomberg, Pohakea Elementary
- Mila Bradley, Nanaikapono Elementary
- Sheri Burke, Sunset Beach Elementary
- Monica Chavez, Kealakehe Intermediate
- Amy Downey, Mililani Ike Elementary
- Malia Draper, Wailuku Elementary
- Michelle Dressler, Kauai High
- Eleyne Fia, Campbell High
- Elizabeth Gianfrancisco, Myron B. Thompson Academy
- Susan Gonsalves, Aiea High
- Linda Gravatt, Hana High and Elementary
- Mitzi Hasegawa, Hana High and Elementary
- Holland Henderson, Mililani High
- Jami Higashi Lee, Pearl City High
- Yvette Ikari, Central District Office
- Mariko Jackson, Kahuku High and Intermediate
- Jenna Kanaya, Mililani Ike Elementary
- Suanne Kim, Palolo Elementary
- Bo Kim-Bautista, Wailuku Elementary
- Angie Koanui, Farrington High
- Janelle Ling, Kaiser High
- Andrew Michaels, Waipahu High
- Jennifer Mizumura, Lincoln Elementary
- Christian Morgado, Kauai High
- Carina Morgan, Mililani High
- Kristie Morikawa, Moanalua High
- Amber O'Reilly, Windward District Office
- Diane Omura, Baldwin High
- Malia Perry, Waiakea Elementary
- Julia Sanderl, Kapaa Intermediate
- Sean Silva, Mokulele Elementary
- Amber Stanley, Hahaione Elementary
- Jodi Tanabe-Hanzawa, Aiea High
- Joy Takatsuka, Kamehameha III Elementary
- Travis Toriano, Hilo Intermediate
- Haley Van Weemen Van Noord, Lahaina Intermediate
- Kate Welch, Pomaikai Elementary
The State of Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, Hawaii State Teachers Association and Kamehameha Schools provide administrative and technical support to teachers interested in seeking National Board Certification. Recently, the DOE has partnered with Kamehameha Schools to train Hawaii NBCTs to conduct the introductory training of the Charlotte Danielson’s Framework for Teaching at schools throughout the state.
It is no small accomplishment to become Board certified," said Kamehameha Schools CEO Dee Jay Mailer. "It’s a strong symbol of dedication to professional excellence for one of the greatest callings on this Earth. The Danielson approach to professional development provides pathways to such excellence and it is gratifying to know that these master teachers are ready to assist their colleagues in the pursuit of their excellence as well."
Saluting the newest class of NBCTs, Ronald Thorpe, president and CEO of the National Board, said: "Achieving National Board Certification is not only a great personal achievement, it is a strong statement about a teacher’s commitment to the profession and to students and their learning. Today, only a small fraction of America’s teachers are Board certified, but to improve the global competitiveness of our students, we must ensure that every novice teacher is on a trajectory towards accomplished practice."
The Hawaii Teacher Standards Board Chairperson, Terry Holck states, "The Hawaii Teacher Standards Board would like to congratulate the new National Board Certified Teachers who have successfully undertaken the rigorous National Board Certification process and demonstrated their content knowledge and teaching skills against the most advanced standards in the nation. We would also like to commend the teachers who renewed their National Board Certification this past year. The Hawaii Teacher Standards Board is proud of its commitment to teacher excellence by providing subsidies and support sessions to Hawaii’s teachers who elect to go through this process. Every day, these accomplished teachers are having a positive impact on students in Hawaii."
Research has shown that NBCTs have a significant impact on student achievement and that their students outperform their peers in other classrooms. Most recently, a 2012 study by Harvard University’s Strategic Data Project found that students of NBCTs in the Los Angeles Unified School District made learning gains equivalent to an additional two months of instruction in math and one month in English language arts.
National Board Certification is available in 25 certificate areas from Pre-K-12th grades. National Board Standards are written for teachers, by teachers and accomplished teachers are represented at every level of the organization, from key staff roles to the NBPTS Board of Directors and the Certification Council, which guides policy and implementation of the certification program. This fall the National Board announced revisions to the certification process that will help ensure more students across the country have the opportunity to learn from Board-certified teachers. Learn more about the revisions here.
The Hawaii State Department of Education is the ninth largest U.S. school district and the only statewide educational system in the country. It is comprised of 288 schools and serves more than 185,000 students. Hawaii's public school system was established in 1840 by King Kamehameha III. To learn more, visit HawaiiPublicSchools.org.
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HSTA: National Board Certified Teachers