U-46 board to honor teachers with National Board Certification

On Feb. 26, the Elgin Area School District U-46 board recognized eight teachers who have recently earned the highest credential in the teaching profession as well as another three teachers who have maintained and recently renewed this credential.

National Board Certification requires teachers pass a rigorous performance-based assessment that only 33 percent of candidates pass on the first attempt.

"I'm very proud of these teachers who have taken on this rigorous certification process to hone their practice and demonstrate their advanced knowledge and skills," said CEO Tony Sanders. "Their students and schools will benefit from having these outstanding professionals in the classroom."

The latest group of U-46 teachers join more than 100 of their peers in the district who have earned the credential. The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards oversees the process for National Board Certification, which can take a teacher one to three years to complete. It is a self-reflective form of professional development that aims to hone each candidate's teaching skills.

Candidates must demonstrate their understanding of content knowledge in their chosen certificate area; design and implement instruction to advance student learning and achievement; describe, analyze and reflect on their teaching and interactions with students; and highlight their abilities as an effective and reflective practitioner in developing and applying their knowledge of their students.

The following teachers in U-46 earned National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification in 2017:

• Meagen Balzer: Streamwood High School, English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood;

• Christine Bowen: South Elgin High School, Mathematics/Adolescence and Young Adulthood;

• Sandra Citron: Early Learners Initiatives/Kindergarten Early Learners Initiatives/Kindergarten and Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood;

• Nicole Fernstrom: Streamwood High School, Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood;

• Eric Hill: Larkin High School, English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood;

• Brooke McGrath: Clinton Elementary School, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood Through Young Adulthood;

• Amanda Patano: South Elgin High School, English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood;

• Karen Witt: Horizon Elementary, School Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood.

The following individuals in School District U-46 renewed their National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification:

• Maryellyn Friel: Heritage Elementary School, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood Through Young Adulthood;

• Nicholas Vassolo: Streamwood High School, Social Studies History/Young Adolescence and Young Adulthood;

• Naushina Rahman: Elgin High School - Social Studies History/Young Adolescence and Young Adulthood.

The board-certified teachers will receive an Accent on Achievement certificate at the board meeting.

The U-46 board of education Meetings are always open to the public and they stream live on YouTube.