January 9, 2007
Thirty-five Horry County Schools’ teachers are among 636 South Carolina teachers that have joined the ranks of those achieving National Board Certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. This year’s group of newly certified teachers raises the district’s number to 169 educators who have earned the highest credential available in the teaching profession. Statewide, 5,077 educators have earned this distinction, which is more than 10 percent of all South Carolina teachers. South Carolina retains its third-place national ranking, after North Carolina and Florida, in the number of new certifications. The state remains second overall in the percentage of teachers completing the process. Since 1999, state legislators have supported National Board Certification as a tool to retain high-quality teachers in classrooms while increasing student achievement. South Carolina offers incentives to teachers who achieve National Board Certification, including a $7,500 annual salary supplement for every year that they teach after receiving certification, for the 10-year life of their certificates. Locally, Horry County Schools’ teachers receive an additional annual salary supplement of $4,000. The National Board process defines the knowledge, skills and accomplishments that symbolize teaching excellence. It was created so that teachers, like professionals in other fields, can achieve distinction by demonstrating through a demanding performance assessment that they meet high and rigorous standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do. Teachers seeking National Board Certification undertake a two-part process that takes from one to three years to complete. The process requires candidates to reflect on their classroom practices, their understanding of subject material and their preparation techniques. In addition to preparing a portfolio with videotapes of classroom teaching, lesson plans, student work samples and reflective essays, teachers must complete assessment center exercises based on content knowledge that proves they have mastered the subjects they teach and also know how to teach them. Newly-certified HCS teachers are: John Adkins, Aynor Middle School; Donna Alioto, Myrtle Beach Elementary School; Leigh Bane, Ocean Bay Elementary School; Christopher Bogiages, Scholars Academy; Christopher Boyle, Socastee High School; Paula Cain, Pee Dee Elementary School; James Cazier, the Academy for Arts, Science and Technology; Carol Chestnut, Aynor High School; Christine Colborn, North Myrtle Beach Intermediate School; Tona Cook, Ocean Bay Elementary School; Samantha Coy, Socastee Elementary School; Tammy Floyd, Green Sea Floyds Elementary School; Patsy Griffith, South Conway Elementary School; Kathy Henderson, Carolina Forest High School; Gretchen Holzberger, Carolina Forest High School; Martha Hutchinson, Green Sea Floyds Elementary School; Dawn James, Aynor High School; Caren Jenerette, Midland Elementary School; Dyneen Kenley, Myrtle Beach Intermediate School; Melissa Lewis, Aynor High School; Jeri Masterson, Lakewood Elementary School; Toni McDowell, North Myrtle Beach High School; Britt McDowell, North Myrtle Beach High School; Barbara McGinnis, Ocean Bay Middle School; Stanlee Morrison, Myrtle Beach High School; Barbara Rhodes, North Myrtle Beach Intermediate School; Suzanne Shirer, North Myrtle Beach High School; Colette Spencer, North Myrtle Beach High School; David Stone, Socastee High School; Catherine Threatt, North Myrtle Beach High School, Janet Vescovi, Loris High School; Rhonda Wells, Green Sea Floyds High School; Albert Wendler, St. James High School; Patsy Windham, Aynor High School; and Samantha Wood, Pee Dee Elementary School. For more information about National Board Certification, visit the web site of the National Boards for Professional Teaching Standards at www.nbpts.org. |
