Maine’s National Board Certified Teachers Honored in Virtual Pinning Ceremony

national boards

“National Board taught and reminded me of the importance of being a beginner. At first, I thought it was about achievement, but it became very apparent not too long into the process that being a beginner is something to embrace,” said keynote speaker Sarah Brown Wessling, National Board Certified Teacher and 2010 National Teacher of the Year.  She added, “National Board puts the focus on the process of learning, we learn how our students learn.  That is the thing that is so beautiful about this process. Once we understand the how and the why, it makes us stronger teachers and colleagues.”

On January 26th, twenty Maine educators were celebrated for being newly certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards during Team National Board Certified Teaching (NBCT) week. These outstanding educators join a growing network of teachers across the State who have undergone this highly reflective professional learning experience, including 61 of their colleagues who were recognized for National Board Certification renewal.

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.  Words of congratulations were shared by Maine’s Department of Education Deputy Commissioner Daniel Chuhta; MEA President and NBCT Grace Leavitt; NBCTs of Maine Chair and NBCT, Heidi Goodwin; National Board Certified Teachers Network of Maine Chair and NBCT Matt Madore; and Keynote Speaker Sarah Brown Wessling.

The journey to National Board Certification, described by Maine educators as rigorous, deeply reflective, 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.

“Attaining National Board Certification not only demonstrates that you are an accomplished teacher but also that you have a deep commitment to teaching and learning and, most importantly, to the students you work with and support in reaching their potential. It is really a huge achievement,” said Grace Leavitt.

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.

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!

New National Board Certified Teachers:

Name School/SAU NB Certificate Achieved
Julie Bradstreet

 

James H Bean School, RSU 18 Generalist/Early Childhood
Matthew Buchwalder

 

Lincoln Academy Science/Early Adolescence
Larissa Costello Dike-Newell School, RSU 1 Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
Lindsey Davis Leroy H Smith Elementary School, RSU 22 Generalist/Early Childhood
Dawn Dickey Madison Elementary School, MSAD 59 Generalist/Early Childhood
Beth French Kermit Nickerson School, RSU 71 Generalist/Early Childhood
Nesrene Griffin Connors Elementary, Lewiston Public Schools Generalist/Middle Childhood
Emily Hachey Benton Elementary School, MSAD 49 Generalist/Middle Childhood

 

Dorothy Dawson Hall George B Weatherbee School, RSU 22 Generalist/Middle Childhood

 

Alison Hinson (Formerly) Bonny Eagle, MSAD 6 Career and Technical Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
Jennifer Howes Connors Elementary, Lewiston Public Schools Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood
Sarah Latzke Connors Elementary, Lewiston Public Schools English as a New Language/Early and Middle Childhood
Kimberly Mitchell Hampden Academy, RSU 22 Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
Amber Richard

 

Portland Arts and Technology High School, Portland Public Schools Career and Technical Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
Stephanie Robison Frank H Harrison Middle School, Yarmouth School Department English Language Arts/Early Adolescence
Robin Seeker

 

Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth Public Schools Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
Kristin Smythe

 

Thornton Academy Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
Amanda Van Tine Ellsworth High School, Ellsworth School Department Social Studies-History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Sarah Wishart-Rogers Benton Elementary School, MSAD 49 Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood
Haley Wotton Thomaston Grammar School, RSU 13 Generalist/Early Childhood

 

National Board Certified Teachers who achieved “Maintenance of Certification”

Name National Board Certificate Maintained
Leslie Applebaum

 

English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Ryan Avery Science/Early Adolescence
Emily Barriault English as a New Language/Early and Middle Childhood

 

Jennifer Briggs

 

Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Rebekah Brockway

 

Generalist/Middle Childhood
Ashley Bryant

 

English Language Arts/Early Adolescence
Peggy Callahan

 

English as a New Language/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
Courtney Cole

 

Generalist/Early Childhood
Andrea Cram

 

Mathematics/Early Adolescence
Debra Demos

 

Generalist/Early Childhood
Robbin Dilley

 

Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Jennifer Dorman

 

English Language Arts/Early Adolescence
Louis Dorogi

 

Social Studies-History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Katie Dutil

 

Generalist/Early Childhood
Joseph Feeney Social Studies-History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Stephanie Fogler

 

 

Generalist/Early Childhood
Patricia Forster

 

English Language Arts/Early Adolescence
Leslie Gallant

 

Generalist/Early Childhood
Heather Geoghan

 

Physical Education/Early and Middle Childhood
Julia Gibson

 

Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
Kelley Goodfield

 

Library Media/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
Heidi Goodwin

 

Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood
Mark Gorey

 

English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Melissa Guerrette

 

Generalist/Middle Childhood
Elizabeth Hayden

 

Mathematics/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Nell Herrmann

 

Science/Early Adolescence
Holly Houston

 

Art/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
Hillary (Hoyt) Bellefleur

 

Generalist/Middle Childhood
Jason Kash

 

Social Studies-History/Early Adolescence
Johna King

 

Generalist/Early Childhood
Marcella Lessard

 

Career and Technical Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
Abigail Luchies

 

Library Media/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
Jeanne Lysobey

 

Science/Early Adolescence
Rebecca Maiorano

 

English as a New Language/Early and Middle Childhood
Megan Markgren

 

Generalist/Middle Childhood
Georgianna McAllister

 

Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood
Ryan Middleswart

 

English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Luanne Mudgett

 

Mathematics/Early Adolescence
Mary Murphy Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Jennifer Noel

 

Generalist/Early Childhood
Kelly O’Brien Weaver

 

School Counseling/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
Jenine Olson

 

English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Dawn Pendergrass

 

English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
 

Laura Phelps

Library Media/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood

 

Jill Plourd

 

Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
Cherie Poole

 

Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood
Megan Praschak

 

Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
Jamie Purnell

 

Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Christina Rich

 

Generalist/Early Childhood
Shelly Richardson

 

Mathematics/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Jaci Ritter

 

Mathematics/Early Adolescence
Diane Rodrigue

 

Career and Technical Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
Patricia Scully

 

Generalist/Early Childhood
Michelle Smith

 

Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Justin Stygles

 

Generalist/Middle Childhood
Melissa Sylvester

 

Art/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
Theodore Taylor

 

Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Shawn Towle

 

Mathematics/Early Adolescence
Amy Vacchiano

 

School Counseling/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
Rita Vigneault Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
Lisa Walker Mathematics/Adolescence and Young Adulthood

 

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 a variety of certificate areas, from preschool through 12th grade.

Maine offers an annual salary supplement for eligible educators who have achieved National Board Certification.  Scholarships are also administered through the Department of Education. More information can be found by visiting the DOE’s National Board webpage.

Contact information for National Board Certification in Maine:

NBCTS of Maine:

Heidi Goodwin: nbct.heidi@gmail.com

Jennifer Dorman: jdorman@msad54.org

Maine Education Association:

Mallory Cook: mcook@maineea.org

Maine Department of Education:

Emily Doughty: Emily.doughty@maine.gov