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7 ECISD teachers achieve prestigious National Board Certification

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National Board certification is considered the gold standard for teacher professional development; it is made possible by a generous grant

The number of Ector County ISD teachers who hold National Board certification more than doubled this year as seven new teachers achieved this prestigious designation. Last year, the first five ECISD teachers earned the certification. The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification is considered the “gold standard” of teacher certification. National Board-Certified Teachers must demonstrate standards-based evidence of the positive effect they have on student learning.

The ECISD educators who achieved certification, that certification is in parenthesis:

Da'Niel Beauchamp, 7th grade Math Multi-Classroom Leader at Bowie MS (Mathematics, Early Adolescence)

Andrea Berndt, Kindergarten Multi-Classroom Leader at Ross Elem (Literacy, Early and Middle Childhood)

Adriana Carmona, Bilingual Special Education at West Elem (Exceptional Needs Specialist)

Karen Del Rio, 2nd grade Bilingual at West Elem (English as a New Language, Bilingual)

Courtney Hawley, Early Childhood at Austin Elem (Generalist Early Childhood)

Erika Pocaterra, 5th grade Bilingual at Hays STEAM Academy (Generalist, Middle childhood)

Valarie Shreves, 5th grade Reading/Language Arts Multi-Classroom Leader at Ross Elem (Literacy, Early and Middle Childhood)

Achieving the designation of National Board-Certified Teacher (NBCT), is a two-year process and allows the NBCTs to be eligible for an “Acknowledged” designation on their Texas teaching certificate. With the “Acknowledged” designation comes Teacher Incentive Allotment of $3,000 to $9,000.

ECISD teachers have been fortunate to have a grant provided for the cost of certification and support through the process. Through a multi-year, multi-million-dollar grant, the Permian Strategic Partnership provides over $3,000 dollars per candidate to pay for component submissions and support.

Created by teachers, for teachers, the National Board Standards represent a consensus among educators about what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do. Board certification is available in 25 certificate areas spanning 16 disciplines from Pre-K through 12th grade.