Many teachers at RHS are National Board Certified Teachers, yet few students know what this title really means. Teachers around the entire country have attempted to achieve National Board Certification.

According to http://www.nbpts.org, National Board Certified Teachers are “highly accomplished educators who meet high and rigorous standards. Like board-certified doctors and accountants, teachers who achieve National Board Certification have met rigorous standards through intensive study, expert evaluation, self-assessment and peer review.”

In other words, it is a one year process in which teachers have to complete multiple steps and show a tremendous amount of patience and preparation.

National Board Certification is a professional enterprise that requires teachers to possess a collection of instructional strategies to help all students meet high standards. To this day, there are approximately 50,000 teachers who had achieved the National Board Certification, which is the highest professional achievement.

Physical education teacher Mark Crichton is a certified National Merit teacher. “Receiving this certificate is more about you as an individual, but it also helps me become a better teacher. The process consisted of me completing four portfolio entries and making two video lessons,” said Crichton. During the process of becoming a National Merit teacher, teachers receive two professional days off to work on their portfolio and small financial incentives.

Teachers throughout the country have recognized the growing challenges facing public education and have considered a mass of ideas, programs and strategies to enhance teaching and learning in schools. Teachers have worked to strengthen their knowledge and skills as part of the national effort to make higher levels of achievement possible for all students in public education.

This year, Spanish teacher Jean Van Duzer received the National Merit Board Certification after lasting a tough one year process to receive the certification. “I feel honored to be able to become a nationally certified merit teacher and I credit my hard work, determination, and my great mentor for this achievement,” said Van Duzer.

Currently at RHS, there are 11 teachers who are nationally certified. Many of these teachers credit their becoming certified to the educational environment today. Most of the 11 teachers had mentors who advised them through the process and checked their work. “The mentors helped a lot during the process,” said Crichton.

The national certified merit award is something every student should commend teachers for. The hard work they did to receive this certification was because of their passion to help improve their teaching and enhance their students learning abilities. Many other teachers around the country and at RHS have been inspired and strive to join the group of National Board Certified teachers that is growing every day.