Four more FCPS educators recently earned their National Board Certification, which is a demonstration of practice as measured against high and rigorous standards. Congratulations to:

• Christopher Corso, a science teacher at Bryan Station High School;
• Kelli Gould, a first-grade teacher at Dixie Magnet Elementary;
• Jennifer Mason, an English Language Learners teacher at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School; and
• Monyka Wood, a Special Education teacher at Edythe J. Hayes Middle School.

That brings the total to 211 NBCT throughout Fayette County Public Schools, including four already-certified staff who joined us in the 2022-23 school year: Melissa Crouch and Kimberly Hall in the Special Education Department, and Julie Dowdell and Lerin Parker in the Department of Teaching & Learning.

“Being a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) is more than just possessing a certificate, a title, or the right to add those four important letters next to your name. It is an indication of your commitment to student success and to elevating our shared profession — with a focus on strengthening our relationships with our students, our colleagues, and our communities,” said Tyler Murphy, chair of the Fayette County Board of Education.

The certification process generally takes one to three years. Educators must submit a detailed portfolio with examples of student work, an outline of what they have done outside of the classroom to improve student achievement, and videos showing how they teach and interact with students. In addition, they must submit a reflective piece on student assessment and learning and then take a rigorous exam to demonstrate they have mastered their area content.

FCPS also salutes some two dozen employees who in December earned their NBCT maintenance certificate, which is required every five years: Ashleigh Adkins of Rosa Parks Elementary, Jennifer Bottom of Russell Cave Elementary, Chelse Bugg of Lafayette High School, Alice Cox of Dixie Magnet Elementary, Heather Craft of Dixie, Allison Culbertson of Cassidy Elementary, Rebecca Erwin of Northern Elementary, Alicia Henning of Dunbar, Amanda Holt of Dunbar, Janelle Kitchen of Sandersville Elementary, Rosemarie Lefevers of Lansdowne Elementary, Sherri McPherson of Lafayette, Stephanie Miner of Athens-Chilesburg Elementary, Sarah Moon of the Success Academy, Kathryn Ogg of Clays Mill Elementary, Nova Pleman of Booker T. Washington Elementary, Jennifer Prall of Tates Creek High School, Michelle Praria of Garden Springs Elementary, Michelle Pugel of Veterans Park Elementary, Amy Schwarz of The Learning Center, Amanda Simmons of Garden Springs, Geoffrey Sprinkle of Leestown Middle School, Amanda Trent of Clays Mill, Tara White of Sandersville, and Amanda Wright of Lafayette.

Resources: NBCT in Kentucky 

Contact: Lauren Hill at Leestown Middle

Posted Feb. 15, 2023