Newly certified teacher Earlisha Whitfield (left) of Ryan Elementary School celebrates her accomplishment with Ryan Elementary Dean of Students Patty Merrick (right) over flowers.

The East Baton Rouge Parish School System (EBRPSS) celebrated a milestone for many of its teachers last Thursday, January 21 – National Board Certification.  The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards announced that 132 teachers in the state gained certification this year.  Thirteen are from this School System and were honored with a pre-School Board meeting reception.

Educators demonstrate their knowledge and skills through a series of assessments, including student work samples, videotapes, detailed self–analyses and a half–day of content tests.  In Louisiana, teachers who successfully complete the year–long challenge add $5,000 annually to their paychecks for 10 years.

In addition, teacher Jan Evans of Cedarcrest-Southmoor Elementary School renewed her certification this year.  Now the total number of teachers who are Nationally Board Certified (NBC) in EBRPSS is 128.  This year, EBRPSS ranks second only to Caddo and Jefferson Parish, who both had 18, as having the largest new NBC teachers. Louisiana ranked 16th nationwide in the number of teachers achieving board certification. And the state ranks 15th overall in the total number of NBC teachers.

Jill Saia, who coordinates National Board candidates for EBRPSS, said more than 400 teachers are at some stage of the process currently.  She also said the School System’s certified teachers receive a total salary stipend of $10,000 per year, which is more than any other district in the state.New Nationally Board Certified Teachers in this School System and their areas of certification are:

Corie Buras, Southeast Middle, Early Adolescence Social Studies/History

Selena Gilcrease, Buchanan Elementary, Middle Childhood Generalist

Keri Hebert, Woodlawn Middle, Early Adolescence English – Language Arts

Carol Moore, Delmont Elementary, Early-Middle Childhood Physical Education

Laura Owen, East Baton Rouge Lab Academy, Adolescence-Young Adulthood Social Studies/History

Valerie Robinson, Westdale Heights Academic Magnet, Early-Middle Childhood Literacy/Reading-Language Arts

Joanna Sherburne, Broadmoor Elementary, Early-Middle Childhood Literacy/Reading-Language Arts

Laverne Simoneaux, University Terrace Elementary, Early Childhood – Young Adulthood Library Media

Danielle Staten, Wyandotte Center, Early Childhood Generalist

Theresa Karwath, Westdale Middle, Early Childhood – Young Adulthood Library Media

Earlisha Whitfield, Ryan Elementary, Early-Middle Childhood Literacy/Reading Language Arts

Sharon Woodrich, University Terrace Elementary, Early-Middle Childhood Literacy/Reading Language Arts

Gretchen Wroten, Tara High, Early Childhood – Young Adulthood Library Media