Area teachers earn national recognition
ALBANY, N.Y. >> New York State United Teachers recognized 97 teachers from across the state, including some local educators, who earned national certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, the “gold standard” in the education profession.
In total, New York is home to 2,115 National Board Certified Teachers.
Each have completed a rigorous performance-based, peerreviewed assessment process that includes a review of teaching portfolios, student work samples, videos and analysis of a candidate’s teaching and student learning.
A total of 60 New York educators had their certifications renewed in 2019.
“New York’s National Board Certified Teachers are shining examples of the outstanding educators across the state who work so hard to help their students achieve their full potential,” NYSUT president Andy Pallotta said in a press release. “With inequality in education among the most pressing issues of our time, this diverse group is proof that every corner of the state has dedicated teachers who believe in education and, most importantly, in their students.”
This year’s class of National Board Certified Teachers touches every region of New York, with the Capital Region (20 teachers) and Long Island (19) leading the way.
Saratoga County awardees included on the list are Karin Canjura and Natalia Carusone of Saratoga City School District; Rachel Fridholm, Stephanie MacArthur and Elizabeth Retell of Stillwater Central School District; and Kathleen Palmieri of Shenendehowa Central School District.
Achieving national certification is extraordinarily challenging, the release said. Candidates typically spend 200 to 400 hours of their own time having their teaching assessed against rigorous standards through an extensive series of performance-based assessments, including teaching portfolios, student work samples,
videos of their lessons, and thorough analyses and reflection of the candidate’s teaching and student learning.
The process involves written exercises that probe the depth of the candidate’s subject-area knowledge, as well as their understanding of how to teach those subjects.
NYSUT, a statewide union with more than 600,000 members, assists national board candidates by offering awareness programs and support through online discussion forums, and conferences and professional development through its Education & Learning
Trust. The union also aids state teacher centers in supporting candidates through the challenging board certification process.
In addition, a state grant program helps pay the candidates’ application fees and other expenses.
“National Board Certified Teachers show every day how transformative a high-quality education can be for our students,” NYSUT executive vice president Jolene T. DiBrango said in the release. “To become certified, these teachers have demonstrated not just that they know their subject areas, but that they know their students, the challenges they face and how to help them grow. These educators are proof that teaching makes a difference.”