PRINT ARTICLE

• Meghan Amayo – West View Elementary second-grade teacher
• Amber Hreha – Ross Elementary School learning support teacher
• Sherri Kempf – Highcliff Elementary school counselor
• Stephanie Lucas – North Hills High School math teacher
• Kristopher Proctor – North Hills Middle School science teacher
• Vicki Truchan – North Hills Middle School English teacher
• Stefanie Tumbas – West View Elementary librarian

“Achieving National Board Certification is a demanding process that requires a significant commitment,” Dr. Patrick J. Mannarino, superintendent, said. “These educators are to be commended for their dedication to providing the highest quality instruction for students in North Hills School District.”

North Hills boasts a total of 21 nationally certified teachers – one of the highest numbers among the county’s 41 suburban school districts.

National Board Certification is a voluntary assessment program designed to recognize and reward great teachers—and make them better. While state licensing systems set basic requirements to teach in each state, National Board Certified Teachers have successfully demonstrated advanced teaching knowledge, skills and practices. These accomplished teachers comprise approximately three percent of the national teaching force.

Certification is achieved through a rigorous, performance-based assessment that typically takes one to three years to complete. As part of the process, teachers build a portfolio that includes student work samples, assignments, videos and a thorough analysis of their classroom teaching. Additionally, teachers are assessed on their knowledge of the subjects they teach.

In a congressionally mandated report, the National Research Council confirmed that National Board Certified Teachers advance student achievement and learning, stay in the classroom longer, support new and struggling teachers and assume other school leadership roles. The NRC acknowledged that students taught by National Board Certified Teachers make higher gains on achievement tests than students taught by non-board-certified teachers.

There are currently 1,282 National Board Certified Teachers in Pennsylvania and more than 118,000 nationally.

“National board certification is synonymous with great teaching. While our nation is focused on the need for the highest quality teachers, board certification truly is the gold standard,” Ronald Thorpe, president and CEO of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, said.

For more information about the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and National Board Certification, visit www.nbpts.org.

Here is a listing of all of NHSD’s National Board Certified Teachers:

• Meghan Amayo, West View Elementary
• Dr. David Barkovich, North Hills High School
• JoHannah Brawdy, North Hills High School
• Jennifer DiPasquale, North Hills High School
• Shannon Diven, West View Elementary School
• Debra Everhart, North Hills High School
• Jessica Friedrich, West View Elementary School
• Stephen Garcia, West View Elementary School
• Heather Herger, Highcliff Elementary School
• Amber Hreha, Ross Elementary School
• Sherri Kempf, Highcliff Elementary School
• Jackie Karenbauer, North Hills High School
• Stephanie Lucas, North Hills High School
• Amy Myers, West View Elementary School
• Carol Nelson, McIntyre Elementary School
• Jennifer Ortiz, North Hills Senior High School
• Kristopher Proctor, North Hills Middle School
• Vicki Truchan, North Hills Middle School
• Stefanie Tumbas, West View Elementary School
• Kathy Weber, West View Elementary
• Joseph Welch, North Hills Middle School