Averill Park teacher receives national certification
AVERILL PARK, N.Y. >> An 8th grade teacher from Averill Park Central School District was recently informed that he has received “National Board Certification” for his work as a social studies teacher. Chris Anderson, an 8th grade t eam leader, social studies teacher and technology integration specialist at Averill Park Central School District, was informed over the weekend that he has received “National Board Certification” for social studies, according to a news release from the district.
Officials said Anderson is the first Averill Park teacher to receive National Board Certification.
“Averill Park is an amazing school district and I am honored to work here,” Anderson said in the news release. “It feels wonderful to be the first, but knowing the dedication and commitment of my colleagues here, I’m sure I won’t be the last.”
According to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, “National Board Certification was designed to develop, retain and recognize accomplished teachers and to generate ongoing improvement in schools nationwide. It is the most respected professional certification available in K-12 education.”
Officials said that the process to get certified requires the teacher to demonstrate evidence of the positive effect they have on student learning in alignment with the five core principles, including deep understanding of their students, content knowledge, use of data and assessments, and teaching practice.
“Initially, I pursued National Board Certification for the challenge and while it was difficult, it was also an amazing experience,” Anderson said. “I learned so much about instruction, classroom management, communication, collaboration and reflection. The various components of the NBCT process help you to determine what you do well, where you fall short, and how you can improve.”
“This is a major accomplishment and reflects Chris’ drive to constantly improve his instructional practice,” added AMS Principal Robert Messia in the release. “Chris is an amazing teacher who is able to capture students’ attention and push their thinking. Even more, Chris is a role model for so many of us here at Algonquin.”
Anderson has been teaching at Algonquin Middle School for nearly 19 years, spanning his entire professional career. He has taught social studies in all three middle school grades.
In addition to teaching, he also serves as a team leader, is the founder of the social media club and is an advisor for Best Buddies.