Thirty-four Horry County Schools’ teachers are among 650 South Carolina teachers that have joined the ranks of those achieving National Board Certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. HCS ranks eighth in the state among 85 school districts for the highest number of teachers achieving National Board Certification. Since 1994 when the initiative began, 209 HCS teachers have achieved this distinction.

The 2007 results bring the number of state teachers receiving their profession’s highest credential to 5,729, third highest in nation. Only North Carolina (12,770) and Florida (10,875) have had more teachers successfully complete the rigorous process. South Carolina ranks second in the percentage of National Board Certified teachers in its schools, with more than 12.1 percent of its teaching force holding the nation's highest credential. Thirty percent of South Carolina’s National Board Certified teachers work in Title 1 schools. 

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 HCS 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-named NBC teachers are: Stacey Bazen, Aynor High School; Robin Bonnoitt, Forestbrook Elementary School; Ellen Carsch, North Myrtle Beach High School; Amanda Cassey, Socastee Elementary School; Rebecca Coleman, Loris Middle School; Andrew Gaddy, Socastee High School; Karen Greene, North Myrtle Beach Primary School; Marci Groff, Palmetto Bays Elementary School; Jessica Hudacko, North Myrtle Beach Elementary School; Linda Long, Socastee Elementary School; Julie Lovell, Forestbrook Elementary School; Peggy McGill, Aynor High School; Kenneth McSorley, St. James High School; Carrie Mikell, North Myrtle Beach Elementary School; Frank Moore, North Myrtle Beach High School; Carrie Mott, Loris Elementary School; Kimberly Myers, Aynor High School; Phyllis Nykiel, Myrtle Beach High School; Diana Pendleton, Loris Middle School; Leslie Rich, Ocean Bay Middle School; Michelle Richardson, Aynor Elementary School; Lisa Ricketts, Midland Elementary School; Anthony Rito, Socastee Elementary School; Elizabeth Sharrett, St. James High School; Tammy Shelley, Black Water Middle School; Deanna Shuler, Conway Elementary School; Penny Skipper, Midland Elementary School; Mercede Smith, South Conway Elementary School; Peggy Ann Stone, Socastee High School; Tammy Todd, Midland Elementary School; Cathy Vaughn, Midland Elementary School; Kathleen Wester, Seaside Elementary School; Demetrius Williams, Conway Middle School; and Catherine Zorko, Myrtle Beach Middle School.