HCPSS Congratulates Eight National Board Certified Teachers
May 5th, 2017
National Board Certification is the highest-level credential in the educational profession. Teachers who achieve National Board Certification have met rigorous standards through intensive study, self-assessment, peer review and expert evaluation.
At the May 4 Board of Education meeting, HCPSS recognized eight teachers who achieved certification in November—one first-time achiever and seven who have renewed their certification. Howard County has one of the highest numbers of National Board Certified Teachers among Maryland districts, with a total of 152 teachers who have achieved national certification.
The newly certified achiever is Stephanie Coleman, a secondary reading teacher at Ellicott Mills Middle School.
The renewal achievers are:
- Kim Butler, instructional technology teacher at Fulton Elementary School
- Dr. Janice Doherty, secondary science/chemistry teacher at Oakland Mills High School
- Doug Lea, band director at Deep Run and Swansfield elementary schools
- Jocelyn Martin, secondary English teacher at River Hill High School
- Katherine Murphy, Gifted and Talented resource teacher at Bushy Park and Triadelphia Ridge elementary schools
- Louis H. West, secondary visual art teacher at Clarksville Middle School
- Paige Zimmer, third grade teacher at Northfield Elementary School.
The HCPSS NBC program is a joint partnership with Maryland State Department of Education. The school system combines resources with the state department to support candidates through a scholarship program that includes Saturday support sessions. The school system also has a partnership agreement with National University, which has a Masters Program that includes course work on National Board Certification.