“When I look at each of your faces, I get so excited because I am looking at the best examples of reflective changemakers in the state. I am hoping tonight, you realize how much power you have as an educator and your role as change-maker,” said Hillary Hoyt, National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT), 2021 Waldo County Teacher of the Year, and 2022 Maine Teacher of the Year Finalist. Hoyt was the keynote speaker at the February 7, 2022 virtual pinning ceremony honoring and recognizing Maine’s new and renewed NBCT’s.
This week, 16 educators were celebrated for being newly certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. These outstanding educators join more than 400 teachers across the state who have undergone this highly reflective professional learning experience, including 32 of their colleagues who were recognized for renewal of their National Board Certification this year.
The pinning ceremony was hosted by the Maine Education Association (MEA) and the National Board Certified Teachers Network of Maine (NBCTs of Maine). Among those in attendance to celebrate were family members, colleagues, administrators, fellow NBCT’s, state legislators, and Maine Department of Education staff. Education Commissioner Pender Makin; Deputy Commissioner Daniel Chuhta, MEA President and NBCT Grace Leavitt; NBCTs of Maine Chair and NBCT, Heidi Goodwin; Membership and Outreach Coordinator and NBCT Matt Madore; NBCT and Treasurer Susan O’Brien; and Keynote Speaker Hillary Hoyt, NBCT all shared words of admiration and congratulations.
The journey to National Board Certification, described by Maine educators as rigorous, personally reassuring, and professionally rewarding, requires nearly 400 hours of time and effort to achieve. Educators must submit a detailed portfolio that includes examples of student work, video recordings of classroom teaching, a reflection piece focused on student assessment and learning, and demonstrated mastery of the content of their chosen certification area. This evidence must meet the Five Core Propositions and the National Board Standards, a body of knowledge that is maintained by teachers. Practicing teachers, through a peer-review process, assess the portfolios.
Grace Leavitt, MEA President and NBCT reflected on her personal journey to become certified, then addressed the honorees, “You must truly be the most remarkable of most remarkable. Not only did you take on the challenge, but you persisted despite the fact that we have been in a global pandemic for two years.”
Commissioner Pender Makin, just returning from a memorable day in Windham added, “What a complete honor to be able to close out my day in celebration of you. You each thought, ‘I am going to stretch myself to my absolute limit, dig in deep and engage in this process.’ I am in absolute awe of your work, commitment, of your professional integrity and fortitude that got you through this experience. Thank you to everyone for everything you do for your students and the profession!”
NBCT’s and Professional Learning Facilitators Heidi Goodwin and Jennifer Dorman led this year’s pinning ceremony. Attendees each had the opportunity to introduce themselves and be “pinned” by a family member or friend at home.
Closing out the evening, Susan O’Brien shared, “This evening we witness 16 newly certified NBCT’s. Tonight you witnessed 32 veteran NBCT’s being honored for renewing their certificates. These are reflective educators who are forever learning, improving, and leading. I am proud to share a screen with those who go above and beyond with their sparkling pedagogy and engaging content!”
In pursuing and achieving National Board Certification, the following teachers have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to their students, schools, and districts. Please join us in congratulating them!
16 New National Board Certified Teachers:
| Name | District | School | Grade/subject | NB Certificate Achieved |
| Wyndee Mocciola Grosso | Westbrook | Saccarappa School | 1st Grade/all | Generalist/Early Childhood |
| Carolyn Nichols | RSU 1 | Morse High School | 11 & 12 Biology | Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood |
| Mary Carbone | n/a | Thornton Academy | High School Science | Science/Early Adolescence |
| Joseph Carbone | n/a | Thornton Academy | High School Science | Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood |
| Jessica Cardosi | n/a | Thornton Academy | High School Science | Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood |
| Alice Ford | Generalist/Middle Childhood | |||
| Jodi Bisson | RSU 22 | Earl C. McGraw | 2nd Grade/all | Generalist/Early Childhood |
| Meagan Mattice | Augusta Public Schools | Gilbert School | Kindergarten/all | Generalist/Early Childhood |
| Stacy Jardine LaBree | RSU 22 | Reeds Brooks Middle School | English and Math | English Language Arts/Early Adolescence |
| Elizabeth Carlson | RSU 21 | Kennebunk High School | Language Arts | English Language Arts/Early Adolescence |
| Kathryn Giampetruzzi | Lewiston Public Schools | Connors Elementary School | ELL Coach | English as a New Language/Early and Middle Childhood |
| Krystle Catell | MSAD 28 | Camden-Rockport Middle School | Special Education Teacher Gr 5 | Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood |
| Garrett White | Scarborough Schools | Scarborough Middle School | Art Gr 6-8 | Art/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood |
| Kassandre (Kassie) Dwyer | Athens Public Schools | Athens Community School | Gr 6 – 8 | Social Studies- History/Early Adolescence |
| Becky Marks | RSU 12 | Windsor Elementary School | Gr. 1 | Generalist/Early Childhood |
| Eva Platt | Portland Public Schools | Multiple schools | Library Media Specialist | Library Media/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood |
32 National Board Certified Teachers who achieved “Maintenance of Certification” (MOC) – (This is the new “renewal process” for NB)
| Name | District | School | Grade/subject | NB Certificate Maintained |
| Valerie Dominski | RSU 51 | Mabel I Wilson School | Gr 3/all | Generalist/Early Childhood |
| Maureen Driscoll | RSU 51 | Mabel I Wilson School | Library Media Specialist | Library Media/Early Childhood – Young Adulthood |
| George “Rad” Mayfield | RSU 34 | Old Town HS | Science 9 – 12 | Science/Adolescence –& Young Adulthood |
| Megan Bendson | Five Town CSD | Camden Hills Regional High School | Social Studies 9 – 12 | Social Studies/History Adolescence & Young Adulthood |
| Troy Wagstaff | RSU 26 | Orono High School | School Counselor | School Counseling Early Childhood – Young Adulthood |
| Denise Allen | MSAD 51 | Greely High School | Health/
Science 9 – 12 |
Health Education – Early Adolescence – Young Adulthood |
| Blair Atherton Bacon | Portland Public Schools | Lincoln Middle School | Teaching Strategist | Literacy: Reading Language Arts, Early & Middle Childhood |
| Jessica Sleeper Rosado | RSU 21 | District-wide | ELL Teacher | English as a New Language: Early and Middle Childhood |
| Paula Bourque | Augusta Public Schools | Multiple Schools | Literacy Specialist | Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood |
| Maureen Cooper | Augusta Public Schools | Gilbert School | Gr 1 – all | Generalist/Early Childhood |
| Caroline Eldridge | Augusta Public Schools | Hussey School | Gr 2 – all | Generalist/Early Childhood |
| Brenda Longway | RSU 10 | Mountain Valley Middle School | Gr 7 – 8 | Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early childhood through Young Adulthood |
| Tonya Prentice | Tremont Public Schools | Tremont Consolidated School | Science/Gr 5- 6 | Generalist/Middle Childhood |
| Jena Kerns | Portland Public Schools | Longfellow School | Gr 1 -2/all | Generalist/Early Childhood |
| Danielle Waite | Millinocket Public Schools | Granite Street School | Gr 1 – all | Generalist/Early Childhood |
| Heather Girsa | Millinocket Public Schools | Stearns Jr/Sr High School | Math | Math/Early Adolescence |
| Tracy Vassiliev | Bangor Public Schools | James F. Doughty School | Science & Applied Science | Science/Early Adolescence |
| Jennifer Boehmer | Bangor Public Schools | James F. Doughty School | English, Gr 6 | English Language Arts/Early Adolescence |
| Heidi Bullen | RSU 44 | Crescent Park School | Gr 3/all | Generalist/Middle Childhood |
| Brenda Wight | RSU 44 | Crescent Park School | Gr 2/all | Generalist/Middle Childhood |
| Alice Lee | RSU 44 | Crescent Park School | Gr 2/all | Generalist/Early Childhood |
| Renee Charette | RSU 44 | Telstar Middle School | Gr 8/math | Generalist/Middle Childhood |
| Gina Lavoie | RSU 44 | Crescent Park School | Gr 2/all | Generalist/Early Childhood |
| Michelle Fraser | Wiscasset Public Schools | Wiscasset Middle/High School | English Composition Gr 9 & 10 | English Language Arts & Young Adulthood |
| Molly O’Guinness Carlson | Wiscasset Public Schools | Wiscasset Middle/High School | Special Education Teacher 7 – 12 | Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood – Young Adulthood |
| Lori Fowler | Lewiston Public Schools | Montello School | Pre-K/all | Generalist/Early Childhood |
| Robyn Rose | Lewiston Public Schools | Montello School | Special Education
Gr 4 – 6 |
Exceptional Needs Specialist/early Childhood – Young Adulthood |
| Sara Lucas | RSU 11 | Helen Thompson School | Gr 2/all | Generalist/Early Childhood |
| William Hinkley | RSU 40 | Medomak Valley High School | Algebra Gr 10 – 12 | Mathematics/
Adolescence – Young Adulthood |
| Nancy Coty | Wells | Wells High School | Health Education 9 – 12 | Health Education/Early Adolescence – Young Adulthood |
| Kevin O’Shaughnessy | Wells | Wells High School | Psychology, World After 1945 9 – 12 | Social Studies – History/Adolescence – Young Adulthood |
| Cara Colgan | Westbrook | Saccarappa School | Gr 4/all | Generalist/early Childhood |
National Board certification is voluntary and open to all teachers who have at least three years of classroom experience and a bachelor’s degree. Certification is available in 25 certificate areas, from preschool through 12th grade.
Contact information for National Board Certification in Maine:
NBCTS of Maine:
Heidi Goodwin: nbct.heidi@gmail.com
Susan O’Brien: nbct.susan@gmail.com
Maine Education Association:
Grace Leavitt: gleavitt@maineea.org
Maine Department of Education:
Emily Doughty: Emily.doughty@maine.gov