“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