Battle Ground Educators Earn National Board Certification (Photo) - 01/18/19

Six educators from Battle Ground Public Schools earned certification in 2018 from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). This accomplishment marks the successful completion of a rigorous, one-to-three year program aimed at honing teaching techniques and styles that bolster students’ enthusiasm for learning.

National Board Certification is an advanced teaching credential that goes beyond state licensure. Only about 40 percent of educators earn the certification on their first attempt.

Battle Ground's 2018 recipients are:

Nataliya Alekseyeva, kindergarten teacher at Daybreak Primary School
Renee Andrews, school counselor at Summit View High School
Susan Crill, fourth grade teacher at Captain Strong Primary
Audrey Donato, eighth grade teacher at Tukes Valley Middle School
Salina Machida, second grade teacher at Pleasant Valley Primary School
Kaylee Milosevich, third grade teacher at Glenwood Heights Primary

“The process of becoming national board certified emphasized my strengths as an educator but also highlighted specific teaching practices I needed to improve,” said Salina Machida, second grade teacher at Pleasant Valley Primary School. “I now have a better understanding of how to effectively plan lessons, and I have witnessed my students becoming more reflective learners as a result. They assume responsibility for their learning and are proud to share what we are doing in the classroom with their families.”

National Board Certified Teachers are highly accomplished educators who meet high and rigorous standards set by the NBPTS. Board-certified teachers benefit the school district by sharing their information, knowledge and experience with other teachers who can then take the knowledge into their own classrooms. Most importantly, students benefit from the enhanced skills of board-certified teachers who make the most of their interactions with the children they teach.

Kaylee Milosevich, third grade teacher at Glenwood Heights Primary, said that it was comforting to be a part of a network of educators from different schools, grades and certification areas while working through the National Board Certification process.

“I am beyond grateful for the support and guidance from my Battle Ground cohort facilitators,” said Milosevich. “Being a part of this group provided opportunities for collaboration and building friendships as we worked toward the same goal."

Tukes Valley Middle School eighth grade teacher Audrey Donato said achieving National Board Certification status was a very challenging and time consuming process, but it’s worth it for teachers looking to take that next step in their career.

“Going through the process to become National Board certified was one of the most reflective and intensive professional development opportunities I've ever had as a teacher,” said Donato, “If you're ready to take the next step in your teaching career to become a more effective teaching professional, consider the National Board Certification process as an engaging, challenging, and time-consuming (but worth it!) endeavor.”

The state awards stipends of approximately $3,238 to $5,381 a year to national board certified teachers in Washington State. With nearly 9,000 NBCTs, Washington state has the fourth largest group of NBCTs in the nation.