National Board Certified Teachers Honored in Virtual Recognition Celebration
Charleston, W. Va. – The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) will recognize 96 educators this evening as part of this year’s National Board Certification (NBC) Recognition Celebration. Due to COVID-19, the virtual celebration will premiere on the WVDE Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube social media channels at 7:00 p.m. The honorees represent the 64 new National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) as well as the 32 educators who successfully renewed their certification last year.
National Board Certification is the gold-standard credential for educators in the United States. Much like other professions, NBC symbolizes accomplished practice beyond licensure. The rigorous process—which can take three years to complete—includes four components: content knowledge; differentiation in instruction; teaching practice and learning environment; and effective/reflective practice.
“The data is clear about NBCTs and their profound impact on student learning,” said State Superintendent of Schools, W. Clayton Burch. “The West Virginia Department of Education wholeheartedly supports National Board Certification precisely for the outcomes that benefit students and teachers alike.”
West Virginia’s support of the program has led to the state ranking 13th (previously 14th) in the nation for percentage of NBCTs, and 11th (previously 18th) in the nation for the number of new NBCTs. Currently, there are 1,111 NBCTs in the Mountain State. In addition to an annual $3,500 salary supplement provided by the WVDE, most counties also support NBCTs with additional salary enhancements. WVDE provides mentors to assist those pursuing their certification, and it also reimburses the $1,900 in fees associated with the application process.
Below are this year’s class of National Board Certified Teachers in West Virginia:
New Recipients
| NAME | COUNTY |
|---|---|
| Shelly Compton | Berkeley County |
| Melissa Elliott | Berkeley County |
| Karla Hilliard | Berkeley County |
| Elizabeth Jorgensen | Berkeley County |
| Joseph Merkel | Berkeley County |
| Molly K. Ruppenthal | Berkeley County |
| Jessica Salfia | Berkeley County |
| Lucinda A. Weese | Berkeley County |
| Courtney Arnold | Cabell County |
| Lauren Cooper | Cabell County |
| Amanda Craft | Cabell County |
| Melanie C. Hughes | Cabell County |
| Terri Keim | Cabell County |
| Stephanie Neace | Cabell County |
| Adam Riazi | Cabell County |
| Lori Terango | Cabell County |
| Amy E. Thompson | Cabell County |
| Angela Dvorak Ware | Cabell County |
| Kriston Staggs | Grant County |
| Jaclyn C. Loss | Harrison County |
| Kellee M. Shuttleworth | Harrison County |
| Jennifer L. Zickefoose | Harrison County |
| Samantha Asbury | Kanawha County |
| Shellie Clark | Kanawha County |
| Jeffrey Lipscomb | Kanawha County |
| Kami J. Lucas | Kanawha County |
| Courtney Wickert | Kanawha County |
| Kristie Renee Adkins | Lincoln County |
| Tina Dean Adkins | Lincoln County |
| Leah G. Hager | Lincoln County |
| Aimee McGrady | Lincoln County |
| Megan N. Kusich | Marion County |
| Rebecca Merritt | Marion County |
| Miriam Straka | Marion County |
| Michael E. Williams | Marion County |
| Heather Yoho | Marion County |
| Stacy Canterbury | Mercer County |
| Samantha R. Coble | Mineral County |
| Elizabeth Malone Knotts | Mineral County |
| Elizabeth Ferrari | Monongalia County |
| Kristina Palumbo | Monongalia County |
| Christina Pizatella | Monongalia County |
| Kelsey Sprowls | Monongalia County |
| Catherine Hutchinson | Putnam County |
| Chantil L. McCormick | Putnam County |
| Jessica Shortridge | Putnam County |
| Dr. Georgia N. Thornton | Putnam County |
| Lisa M. Brown | Raleigh County |
| Jamie Hazelwood | Raleigh County |
| Stephanie Jarrell | Raleigh County |
| Julie Nixon | Raleigh County |
| Erica W. Pack | Raleigh County |
| Kimberly L. Simpson | Raleigh County |
| Andrea J. Sullivan | Raleigh County |
| Stacy E. Williams | Raleigh County |
| Stephanie J. Wright | Raleigh County |
| Leigh Ann Hoffman | Randolph County |
| Marley Jolly | Wood County |
| Jennifer Ann Tennant | Wood County |
| Christine Louise Fazio Walker | Wood County |
| Amanda Daniels | Wyoming County |
| Misty Lyons | Wyoming County |
Renewal Recipients
| NAME | COUNTY |
|---|---|
| Angela M. McDaniel | Barbour County |
| Erin Sponaugle | Berkeley County |
| Dr. Lee Ann Hvizdak Porter | Cabell County |
| Kristin Ryder | Cabell County |
| Heather M. Gill | Greenbrier County |
| Michelle McHaffie | Hancock County |
| Connie L. Bowers | Harrison County |
| Elissa A. Whelchel | Harrison County |
| James A. Russell, Jr. | Jefferson County |
| Ann Hall | Kanawha County |
| Kelly Massinople | Kanawha County |
| Rebecca Rhett | Kanawha County |
| Alison Stevenson | Kanawha County |
| Bernard Vandal | Kanawha County |
| Katherine Becker | Lincoln County |
| Elizabeth Ann Duncan | Lincoln County |
| Melissa R. Schroeder | Lincoln County |
| Janet Lynn Hanshaw | Logan County |
| Michelle R. Martin | Mercer County |
| Tammy Ashby | Mineral County |
| Heidi Bradshaw | Mineral County |
| Sarah Morgart | Mineral County |
| Jennifer Sparks | Mingo County |
| Emily Bragg | Monongalia County |
| Sara Pennington | Monongalia County |
| Barbara L. Black | Putnam County |
| Natalie Breedlove | Putnam County |
| Janessa Noel | Putnam County |
| Mary K. Blaker | Wood County |
| Corinne Anne Full | Wood County |
| James Stewart | Wood County |
To learn more about the National Board Certification process, visit https://wvde.us/educator-development-and-support/professional-learning/.
For media inquiries, contact Christy Day, West Virginia Department of Education Office of Communications, at 304-558-2699 or Christy.Day@k12.wv.us.