54 Lake Washington Teachers Get Top Certification

REDMOND, WA — More than four dozen educators are being recognized this week after receiving or renewing a top teaching certification, according to the Lake Washington School District.

The National Board Certification is considered the highest certification educators can earn and for first-timers involves a multi-year process that includes assessments and portfolios. According to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, the certification indicates an educator meets the "definitive standards of accomplished teaching."

Each certification needs to be renewed every ten years.

In a news release Tuesday, district officials said four dozen teachers successfully renewed their National Board Certification, joined by six more who achieved the distinction for the first time. Nearly 300 Lake Washington educators have the certification, and Washington boasts the third-highest among states at more than 12,000 top certified teachers.

"We are incredibly proud of our National Board Certified educators and the work they have put in,” said Jon Holmen, LWSD's superintendent. “National Board Certification shows a strong commitment to pursuing a high standard of excellence as an education professional. I want to offer my heartfelt congratulations to the educators who achieved this certification for their demonstration of commitment to complete this process.”

Here is the list of educators who received or renewed their certifications this year:

New:

• Juanita:
  • Frost Elementary School:
    • Mia Orloff - Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early And Middle Childhood
  • Sandburg Elementary School:
    • Jessica Soltani - Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood Through Young Adulthood
• Eastlake:
  • Eastlake High School
    • Amber Owen-Clifford - School Counseling/Early Childhood Through Young Adulthood
  • Tesla STEM High School:
    • Kelly Wescott - School Counseling/Early Childhood Through Young Adulthood
  • Alcott Elementary School:
    • Fareeha Nasir - Generalist/Middle Childhood
• Lake Washington:
  • Franklin Elementary School:
    • Victoria Jacobson - Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early And Middle Childhood

Renewing:

• Lake Washington:
  • Northstar Middle School:
    • Lua Carlson - Science/Early Adolescence
  • Kirk Elementary:
    • Whitney Clarkin - Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early And Middle Childhood
  • Emerson High School:
    • William Gardner - Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood Through Young Adulthood
  • Lake Washington High School:
    • Heidi Menzenberg-Zvilna - Music/Early Adolescence Through Young Adulthood
    • Casey Rummel - English Language Arts/Adolescence And Young Adulthood
    • Bethany Shoda - Social Studies-History/Adolescence And Young Adulthood
  • Stella Schola Middle School:
    • Judy Ronning-Larson - English Language Arts/Early Adolescence
  • Twain Elementary School:
    • Julie Thomas - Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early And Middle Childhood
  • Kirkland Middle School:
    • Sara Ward - English Language Arts/Early Adolescence
• Juanita:
  • Kamiakin Middle School:
    • Julie Bergevin - Mathematics/Early Adolescence
    • Rachael Larsen - Art/Early Adolescence Through Young Adulthood
    • Seema Vaze - Mathematics/Early Adolescence
    • Rachael Perkins -
  • Finn Hill Middle School:
    • Patricia Bergstrom - Science/Early Adolescence
    • Kyla Thompson - English Language Arts/Early Adolescence
  • Juanita High School:
    • Eric Carlson - Mathematics/Adolescence And Young Adulthood
    • Alexandra Pike - Science/Adolescence And Young Adulthood
  • Juanita Elementary School:
    • Kelly Kirkness - Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood Through Young Adulthood
  • International Community School:
    • Timothy McFaul - Science/Adolescence And Young Adulthood
    • Mark Rayder - Art/Early Adolescence Through Young Adulthood
• Redmond:
  • Timberline Middle School:
    • Jacquelyn Coons - School Counseling/Early Childhood Through Young Adulthood
    • Tracy Felton - English Language Arts/Early Adolescence
  • Ella Baker Elementary:
    • Robin Miller - Generalist/Middle Childhood
    • Natalya Stine - Generalist/Middle Childhood
  • Redmond High School:
    • Amy Chackel - Art/Early Adolescence Through Young Adulthood
    • Jeff Gehring - Science/Adolescence And Young Adulthood
    • Alison Kairis - World Languages/Early Adolescence Through Young Adulthood
    • Jordan Swain - Art/Early Adolescence Through Young Adulthood
    • Stephen Thornsberry - Mathematics/Early Adolescence
    • Macy Zwanzig - Science/Adolescence And Young Adulthood
  • Clara Barton Elementary School:
    • Jennifer McCreary - Generalist/Middle Childhood
  • Mann Elementary School:
    • Sara Rigby - Generalist/Middle Childhood
  • Rosa Parks Elementary School:
    • Deborah Sung - Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood Through Young Adulthood
    • Klint Van Cleemput - Physical Education/Early And Middle Childhood
• Eastlake:
  • Eastlake High School:
    • Jyoti Bawa - Science/Early Adolescence
    • Sandra Don Chokr - World Languages/Early Adolescence Through Young Adulthood
    • Christine Everson - Mathematics/Adolescence And Young Adulthood
    • Laura Flagg - Art/Early Adolescence Through Young Adulthood
    • Emma Morris - Science/Adolescence And Young Adulthood
    • John Norris - English Language Arts/Adolescence And Young Adulthood
    • Michelle Okroy - Science/Adolescence And Young Adulthood
    • Shelby Ruge - Science/Adolescence And Young Adulthood
  • Inglewood Middle School:
    • Thomas Nash - Mathematics/Early Adolescence
  • McAuliffe Elementary School:
    • Michelle Toth - Generalist/Middle Childhood
  • Wilder Elementary:
    • Michelle Vallene - Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early And Middle Childhood
• District Administration:
  • Resource Center:
    • Rachelle Horner - Social Studies-History/Adolescence And Young Adulthood
    • Krystal Stephens - Social Studies-History/Early Adolescence
    • Theresa Vasquez - World Languages/Early Adolescence Through Young Adulthood