photo by Thadd White
Four more Bertie Schools educators have joined the ranks of National Board Certified Teachers. Recognized at a recent Bertie Board of Education meeting were, from left, Lisa Rose, Susan Kinlaw-Keel, Debra Jernigan and Renee White.
Best of the Best
Published Tuesday, January 13, 2009
WINDSOR – On Monday, the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame elected two new members as being some of the best of all time.
That came exactly one week after four educators in Bertie County Schools were recognized for being some of the best in their profession. The Bertie County Board of Education officially recognized Debra Jernigan, Susan Kinlaw-Keel, Lisa Rose and Renee White for becoming Nationally Board Certified Teachers.
“We are proud of these ladies and the ones who went before them,” said Bertie County Board of Education Chairman Rickey Freeman. “It’s hard work to work all day and then work all night to become board certified.”
White, a teacher at the Askewville Pre-K and More-at-Four site, earned her National Board Certification in Early Childhood.
“I chose to pursue National Board Certification as a professional development experience and, of course, the salary boost was a great incentive,” White said.
Teachers who earn National Board Certification in North Carolina receive a 12 percent pay differential for the 10-year life of the certification.
Jernigan, who received certification in the Reading/Language Arts area for Early and Middle Childhood, teaches at The Hive. She was pleased with the experience of certification.
“With the help of many, this journey has been a great experience,” she said. “Achieving National Board Certification has renewed my determination in making a difference in the lives of our students. What better way to influence our student than to model the process of learning?”
Kinlaw-Keel, a teacher at Windsor Elementary School, was nationally certified in Physical Education in the Early and Middle Childhood.
“Strengthening my teaching practices will certainly help me be the best possible teacher,” she said. “I am proud to have completed this difficult task with a sense of accomplishment, knowing I will make a positive difference in the lives of my students, the community and myself.”
Rose earned her certification in Exceptional Needs. She is a teacher at Windsor Elementary School.
“I have been teaching since 1985,” Rose said. “I have maintained and increased my professional growth and certification areas since that time. Exceptional National Boards certified me in all areas of mild to moderate disabilities birth through 21 years of age students.”
Rose said the 10-year certification will allow her to be certified through her retirement if she chooses to retire when she is eligible. She also noted the pay increase as a motivating factor.
The four were presented to the Bertie Board of Education last week and were acknowledged by all five members of the board for their work.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Chip Zullinger also commended the teachers for their work and reported that he had done research about National Board Certification in the region.
“I am pleased to say that the number of Nationally Board Certified teachers in Bertie County is good when compared to our student ratio,” he said.
According to the numbers provided by the superintendent, Bertie County has more nationally certified teachers in relationship to students than Halifax, Hertford, Martin or Northampton counties.
Bertie has 21 certified teachers with an enrollment of 3,042 or approximately 1 per 145 students. That number compares to 1 per 169 students for Martin County, 1 per 192 for Halifax County and 1 per 265 in Hertford County. That number in Northampton County is 1 per 818 students.
“We are pleased with the initiative our teachers have taken to get National Board Certification,” Freeman said. “Still, I believe we will look at offering more incentive at the local level during our upcoming board retreat.”
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