Puyallup School Board Honors National Board Certified Educators

From The Puyallup School District: 

Eight Puyallup educators have earned National Board Certification, one of the highest recognitions in the education profession, this past year.

The school board presented the honorees with a rose and certificate during the February 25 board meeting. Superintendent Tim Yeomans also presented the educators with a name badge with their new National Board Certified title. The eight new National Board Certified teachers bring the total that have earned the distinction districtwide to 117. More than a dozen other district educators are undergoing the application process this year.

Certification can take a year or more to attain. Applicants must submit a four-part portfolio and a six-part written assessment based on the field in which they are associated, such as art, music, or science.

The 10 entries document a teacher's success in the classroom as evidenced by his or her students' learning. The portfolio is assessed by a national panel of peers.

Statewide, 575 teachers received National Board Certification in 2012, ranking second among all states for new recipients. Washington's total of 6,817 board-certified teachers is the fourth highest in the nation.

The newest Puyallup School District board-certified educators are: 

• Esteban (Steve) Aguilar, Ferrucci Junior High, certified in social studies - history/early adolescence.
• Janet Foster, Stahl Junior High, certified as exceptional needs specialist/early childhood through young adulthood.
• Hali Hill, Ballou Junior High, certified in science/adolescence and young adulthood.
• Heidi Hobbs, Glacier View Junior High, certified in school counseling/early childhood through young adulthood.
• Julie Mann, Karshner Elementary, certified in English as a new language/early and middle childhood.
• Eric Paul, Emerald Ridge High, certified in mathematics/adolescence and young adulthood.
• Amy Query, Rogers High, certified in mathematics/adolescence and young adulthood.
• Aaron Watt, Ferrucci Junior High, certified in social studies - history/early adolescence.

All eight educators will have their photos displayed on the first floor of the district's administrative office at 302 Second Street S.E. in Puyallup.