Two more teachers in the Cherry Creek School District have earned one of the highest honors in education: National Board Certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). In addition, twelve educators have renewed their National Board certification.
Congratulations to these new National Board Certified Teachers:
- Jolene Johnson, Elementary Teacher, Cherry Hills Village Elementary
- Erin Sallee, Elementary Teacher, Mountain Vista Elementary
Both Johnson and Sallee said earning their National Board Certification was a challenging process that helped them evaluate and improve their teaching practice and better meet their students’ needs.
"After 20+ years of teaching, I thought earning National Board Certification would be a cinch because I know the content, I know the educational jargon, and I know how the classroom should look in a perfect world,” said Johnson, who teaches first grade at Cherry Hills Village Elementary. “Instead, it led me to fully reflect on my teaching and rethink my own traditional pedagogical methods. I rediscovered and even rearranged some of my core beliefs about education. Every day I'll continue to reflect in order to be the best teacher I can be."
“Throughout the journey of becoming certified, I reflected upon my experience within the classroom both at the primary and the intermediate elementary levels,” said Sallee, a fourth grade teacher at Mountain Vista Elementary. “As a result of achieving my National Board Certification, I know that a benefit will be a deeper level of reflection upon my teaching practice. This in turn, will allow me to be a more responsive educator to my students and their individual learning needs.”
Congratulations also go out to the following educators who successfully renewed their National Board certification:
- Ila Adhikari, ELS Specialist, Sunrise Elementary
- Shannon Arellano, Elementary Teacher, Timberline Elementary
- Amy Beswick, Elementary Teacher, Highline Community Elementary
- Nicole Burrell, Instructional Coach, Cimarron Elementary
- Jennifer Christianson, Elementary Teacher, Altitude Elementary
- Douglas Cole, English/Language Arts Teacher, Eaglecrest High School
- Erin Kesler, Science Teacher, Eaglecrest High School
- Katrina Kirsch, Elementary Teacher, Heritage Elementary
- Brian Lee, Social Studies Teacher, Smoky Hill High School
- Jeff Martin, Social Studies Teacher, Overland High School
- Sarah Ramsey, English/Language Arts Teacher, Cherry Creek High School
- Kathleen Sheil, Social Studies Teacher, Smoky Hill High School
Nationally, less than two percent of teachers have earned National Board Certification. It is a rigorous process that can take years to achieve. In order to become National Board certified, teachers must complete a performance-based, peer-reviewed process, demonstrating their proven impact on student learning and achievement.
“These teachers exemplify our Core Value of Growth Mindset,” said Superintendent Christopher Smith. “They are committed to lifelong learning and continuous improvement in their practice, in order to meet the educational needs of each and every one of their students, and help those students reach their academic potential. We are proud to have them as teachers in the Cherry Creek School District.”
Posted 2/6/2024.
