The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) recognized 104 educators on Tuesday, including seven from Harrison County at this year’s National Board Certification (NBC) Recognition Celebration at the West Virginia Culture.

 

The honorees represent the 51 new National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) as well as the 53 educators who successfully renewed their certification last year.

 

Three of the county honorees are from Bridgeport schools — Kathryn Cox from Bridgeport High School, Kathleen Jedrosko from Simpson Elementary School and Bethany Kulchock from Johnson Elementary.

 

The other four Harrison County teachers honored are Ryan Deems from Mountaineer Middle School, Amy Hinkle from Robert C. Byrd High School, Renee Powell from Big Elm Elementary School and Julia Yearego from Lincoln High School.

 

National Board Certification is the gold-standard credential for educators in the United States. Much like other professions, NBC symbolizes accomplished practice beyond licensure. The rigorous process, which can take three years to complete, includes four components: content knowledge; differentiation in instruction; teaching practice and learning environment; and effective/reflective practice.

 

“The West Virginia Department Education is committed to supporting National Board Certification because of the impact it has on teaching and learning,” said State Superintendent of Schools W. Clayton Burch. “Ten years of research shows that NBCTs are highly effective in the classroom, especially among minority and low-income populations. The teachers that we honor this year once again represent educators who are invested in their own professional growth for the benefit of our children.”

 

West Virginia’s support of the program has led to the state ranking 14^th (previously 15^th) in the nation for the percentage, and 18^th (previously 24^th) in the nation for the number of NBCTs (1,046). In addition to an annual $3,500 salary supplement provided by WVDE, most counties also support NBCTs with additional salary enhancements. WVDE provides mentors to assist those pursuing their certification, and it also reimburses the $1,900 in fees associated with the application process.

 

According to data from the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards, Board-certified teachers produce one-to-two months of additional learning because of their deep understanding of teaching strategies, individualized student-learning approaches and in-depth content knowledge.

 

A complete list of all the honorees for the state is located below: