Today, 16 teachers in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System (EBRPSS) earned the prestigious classification of National Board Certified Teacher
(NBCT) from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). This places the School System second in the state for new NBCTs and third in the state for total number of NBCTs (117) in a district.

These teachers are considered highly accomplished educators who meet rigorous standards. They
meet the definition of Highly Qualified under the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law. Currently, more than 95 percent of the teachers in EBRPSS are considered Highly Qualified. Nearly half of the new NBCTs at EBRPSS work in Title I schools.

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. NBPTS offers 25 certificates that cover a variety of subject areas and student developmental levels. In a congressionally mandated study, National Board Certification recently was recognized by the National Research Council as having a positive impact on student achievement, teacher retention, and professional development. Since 1987, nearly 74,000 teachers across the nation have achieved National Board Certification, which:

• meets most states’ definition of “Highly qualified teacher” under NCLB
• strengthens teaching practice
• improves students’ learning according to a vast majority of research
• advances teaching careers
• increases financial opportunities in many states and districts
• provides a portable teaching license in most states
• contributes to CEU/re-certification requirements in some states

EBRPSS’ 2008 National Board Certification teachers, and their areas of certification, includes:

Erica Bankston, Broadmoor Elementary, Middle Childhood Generalist

Sharon Bankston, Westdale Middle, Early
Adolescence/ English Language Arts

Judith Burch, Literacy Coordinator – McAuliffe Center, Early-Middle Childhood Literacy Reading/Lang. Arts

Lena Burrows, McKinley High, Adolescent-Young Adulthood English Language Arts

Kimberly Costanza, Baton Rouge High School, Early Adolescence-Young Adulthood Music

Jaret Guidry, Cedarcrest-Southmoor Elem., Early Childhood Generalist

Debra Hale, Sherwood Middle, Early Adolescence/ English Language Arts

Brandon Hebert, Scotlandville High, Adolescence-Young Adulthood English Language Arts

Debra Held, Wedgewood Elementary, Early Childhood Generalist

Margaret Henderson, Forest Heights Elem., Early-Middle Childhood Literacy Reading/Lang. Arts

Mary Kelly, Park Forest Elem., Early –Middle Childhood Library Media

Debra Reynolds, Westdale Heights Academic Magnet, Middle Childhood Generalist

Parrish Riddle, Capitol Elementary, Early-Middle Childhood Literacy Reading/Lang. Arts

Amy Rivet, Glasgow Middle, Early Adolescence English Language Arts

Linda Sullivan, Westdale Middle, Early Adolescence English Language Arts

Susan Tullier, Sherwood Middle, Early Adolescence Math

For more information, call EBRPSS Human Resources Associate Superintendent Liz Duran-Swinford at (225) 922-5660.