By: Benjamin Rickert, Communications Dept.
High standards for teachers result in effective learning for students. As of December, Buncombe County Schools (BCS) proudly ranks
17th in the nation and
fourth in the state for the number of National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs). Furthermore, North Carolina
leads the nation in the number of teachers holding this credential from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. BCS currently employs 584 NBCTs.
“The National Board Certification process is reflective of the high commitment to quality teaching here in Buncombe County,” said Associate Superintendent Ms. Susanne Swanger, who oversees Curriculum and Instruction. “I am so pleased that many of our teachers go above and beyond to improve their practice of teaching through this reflective process. It results in better learning experiences for students and is an integral part of why BCS is a national leader in education.”
BCS already maintains high employment standards, requiring all teachers to be licensed through the State Board of Education and Department of Public Instruction. This licensure ensures quality of classroom instruction through continuing education and accountability, and keeps educators on the forefront of their fields. The voluntary NBCT certification adds an additional layer of rigor to a teacher’s ongoing training, typically requiring one to five years to complete initially.
At the heart of the of the NBCT certification is development of the National Board’s Five Core Propositions:
1. Teachers are committed to students and their learning.
2. Teachers know the subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to students.
3. Teachers are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning.
4. Teachers think systematically about their practice and learn from experience.
5. Teachers are members of learning communities.
New NBCTs (as of 12/12/2018):
Michael Buckner
Britney Clubb
Angela Ensley
Elizabeth Ford
Barbara Gulick
Christi Hurd
Philip Justen
Laura King
Lucia Lorenzo
Rebecca McCord
Stacey Pavlina
April Puett
Cheryl Rhodes
Sarah Rhymer
Alan Wilson
Kathryn Wohlford
Karen Yutzy
Renewed NBCTs (As of 12/12/2018):
Shawn Beam
Patricia Berzinski
Charla Bradshaw Greene
Stefanie Buckner
Christine Cutshall
Richard Deloughery
Mark Fulkerson
Aimee Gaston
Jennifer Griffin
Janean Haggard
Margo Hale
Cynthia Hallman-Morris
Amy Harris
Sharon Hawkins
Natalie Henry-howell
Suzanne Hoppes
Mackenzie Inman
Cammy Jacobelly
Lisa Lemus
Robyn Pass
Alison Rhodes
Ruth Shivers
Jennifer Tatum
Mary Thoreen
Jeffrey Titley
Jennifer Vann
Jessica Vernon
Jennifer Williams
Congratulations to this school year’s new and renewed NBCTs!
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BCS teachers interested in becoming a National Board Certified Teacher may learn more on the National Board
website.