ARLINGTON, Va. – The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, announced the election of six prominent educators to its board of directors. Elections were held during the organization’s November Board meeting.
“Our newly elected Board members bring great energy and expertise; they will make the National Board stronger and help us advance our mission,” said Peggy Brookins, NBCT, president and CEO of the National Board.
Joining the NBPTS Board of Directors are:
LaTonya Barnes, NBCT, Education Policy and Professional Practice Director at the Alabama Education Association
James Brooks, NBCT, English Teacher at West Wilkes High School in North Carolina
Tan-A Hoffman, NBCT, 4th grade Teacher at JKL Bahweting Anishnabe School in Michigan
Shelly Moore Krajacic, NBCT, NEA Executive Committee member from Wisconsin
David Pickler, President of Pickler Wealth Advisors and Past President of the National School Boards Association from Tennessee
Harriet Sanford, President & CEO of the NEA Foundation from Maryland.
The new directors join education professionals on the NBPTS Board, including former Commissioner of the Kentucky Board of Education, Terry Holliday, who serves as chair, other accomplished teacher leaders, and the presidents of the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association. The majority of NBPTS Board members are National Board Certified Teachers.
“Along with the staff, our Board of Directors is helping to assure that all students have the chance to be taught by an accomplished, National Board Certified Teacher. I’m excited to welcome these education leaders to the NBPTS Board,” said Dr. Holliday. “Our new Board members bring a broad range of experience and I’m confident they have the right experience and skills to help us elevate the profession and advance accomplished teaching.”
Retiring members of the Board of Directors include: Jeff Charbonneau, NBCT and 2013 National Teacher of the Year from Zillah, Washington; Benny Gooden, former superintendent of schools in Fort Smith, Arkansas; Becky Pringle, vice president of the National Education Association; Sonny Savoie, past president of the National School Boards Association from St. Charles Parish, Louisiana; Lee-Ann Stephens, Racial Equity Instructional Coach in St. Louis Park, Minnesota; and Terri Vest, NBCT and teacher at Twinfield Union School in Hardwick, Vermont.
Nationwide, more than 122,000 teachers have achieved National Board Certification, demonstrating that they have met the profession’s standards for accomplished practice. National Board Certification is available in 25 certificate areas, from Pre-K through 12th grade.
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About the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (www.nbpts.org):
The founding mission of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is to advance the quality of teaching and learning by: maintaining high and rigorous standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do; providing a national voluntary system certifying teachers who meet these standards, and advocating related education reforms to integrate National Board Certification in American education and to capitalize on the expertise of National Board Certified Teachers. Recognized as the “gold standard” in teacher certification, the National Board believes higher standards for teachers means better learning for students.