Iowa State Education Association
For Immediate Release
Contact:  Jean Hessburg, 515-471-8025

52 ISEA members earn National Board Certification

(Des Moines) - Fifty-two Iowa State Education Association members have received the 2008 National Board Certification, the highest recognition a teacher can receive in the profession.

Iowa ranks 23rd nationwide in the number of new National Board Certified Teachers and ranks 18th in the total number of teachers (628) who have achieved certification since the program began in 1993.

This announcement comes several months after the National Research Council affirmed that National Board Certification had had a positive impact on student achievement, teacher retention and professional development.

Nationwide, the total number of teachers has climbed to nearly 74,000, according to the National Board for Teaching Standards, which recently released its national list of teachers receiving National Board Certification in 2008. 

National Board Certification allows teachers to be recognized for their highly accomplished teaching practices and is earned through demonstrating teaching expertise using a voluntary process established by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.  National Board candidates go through a two-part assessment that is based on the National Board standards and reflects a variety of teaching situations.  Through the assessment process, successful candidates must develop a portfolio that includes documentation of teaching practice and student work, a videotape of classroom interactions with students and a written detailed analysis of teaching reflected in the videotape and student work that demonstrates their subject matter knowledge, and ability to manage and measure student learning.  Candidates must also attend an assessment center and complete six exercises related to subject matter content.  The assessment consists of 30-minute tests. 

"National Board Certification is a tough program and we're especially proud of our members who put forth the effort to improve their skills and professional abilities," said Iowa State Education Association President, Chris Bern.  "Congratulations to the 52 Iowa State Education Association members for going the extra mile.  Iowa's kids benefit the most from this certification process and we can all be proud of that."

Iowa teachers who seek National Board Certification can take advantage of ISEA's candidate support program, including four courses especially designed to help National Board Certification candidates succeed.

"Education is a fast paced and growing profession.  It takes a lot of dedication and hard work, and we have the best of the best here in Iowa." Bern added.

Following is a list of the ISEA members who are receiving National Board Certification in 2008:

Burlington area-Virlena Johnson and Corrine Swigart, Fort Madison CSD
Council Bluffs area-Deneen Healey, Logan-Magnolia CSD; and Ruben Newell, Atlantic CSD
Cedar Rapids area-Lanette Hauser, Beth Hieronymus, Lisa Johnson, Rebecca Johnson, Patricia Kratovil, Lisa Reid, Carla Riley, and Susan Van Woert, Cedar Rapids CSD; Steven Hester, English Valleys CSD; Kelly Kretschmar and Lori Manley, Linn-Mar CSD; Mark Brase, Marion Independent SD; Suzette Kragenbrink and Julie Vielisel, Mt. Vernon CSD; and Sandra Reishus, West Liberty CSD
Davenport area-Shelley Klaas, Bettendorf CSD; Roxanne McElroy and Karl Wolf, Clinton CSD; and Stephanie Lindmark, Pleasant Valley CSD
Des Moines area-Judith Mongin, Jennifer Parsons, and Dawn Remsburg, Ames CSD; Joleen Henning, Ankeny CSD; Ruth Harvey, Des Moines Independent CSD; Rochelle Wilkins and Dana Willis, Grinnell-Newburg CSD; Dawn Canova, Lisa Crotts, and Alaina Small, Johnston CSD; Ann Swenson, Norwalk CSD; Lyndsay Sayre, Southeast Polk CSD; Jennifer Axness, Southeast Webster-Grand CSD; and Julie Fitzgerald, West Des Moines CSD
Fairfield area-James Edgeton, Scott Slechta, and Elizabeth Wotherspoon, Fairfield CSD
Sioux City area-Shloe Maurer, Kristine McNaughton, and Lisa Sargent, Sioux City CSD; Arthur Hellert, Spirit Lake CSD
Waterloo area-Gretchen Conway, Lizabeth Fox, Elizabeth Lorentzen, and Brigit Storhoff, Decorah CSD; Jeffrey Haverland, Dubuque CSD; Patricia Bell, Monticello CSD; Jennifer Reese, Union CSD; and Margaret Mnayer, Waterloo CSD

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The ISEA is a private, professional organization made up of over 34,000 educators who are dedicated to promoting and preserving public education for all Iowa students.  Great Education.  It's an Iowa Basic.