MONROE -- North Carolina has the highest number of national board certified teachers in the nation for the 14th year in a row with 15,695 teachers now certified. That’s almost 19 percent of all 83,359 certified teachers across the country.

Of more than 1,000 Union County teachers, 38 of them are board certified.

“There was an emphasis several years ago to push teachers in (that) direction,” said David Clarke, assistant superintendent for human resources. “The state came through by putting the money where their mouth is.”

The state is also first in newly-certified teachers; it has 1,509 of the 8,874 educators nationwide who earned the recognition this year.

National Board Certification was first offered in 1994 when eight North Carolina teachers reached this achievement.

Rocky River Elementary School teacher Carol Patterson received her certification just a few years later and renewed it in 2006.

“I wanted to become a better teacher, and I thought I could learn something by going through the process,” she said. Patterson now coordinates national board support for Union County teachers preparing to get their own certification.

“It takes a strong motivation,” she said, and about 400 hours of work, including on-the-job performance evaluation, student work samples, lesson plan documentation, videotaped class instruction and written tests.

“National board certified teachers

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Teachers

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bring a high level of enthusiasm, experience and skills to the classroom that benefits not only their students, but also their fellow teachers,” State Superintendent June Atkinson said in a press release.

Patterson estimates that about 35 percent of teachers reach certification the first year, but most take about three years to complete the work. Some drop out, she said, sometimes due to time or family conflicts. Plus, she added, “some people are just naturally afraid of failure. I don’t know why.”

Kensington Elementary teacher Teresa Gaughan received her certifcation just before Thanksgiving.

“It can be intimidating to see yourself on video because you never think you did well,” she said, calling the process “lengthy and involved.” This is Gaughan’s seventh year teaching in North Carolina; she taught in Florida for six years before.

Gaughan said she knew it would be hard, but, “I tend to go for challenges. ... The money doesn’t hurt.”

If teachers don’t pass board certification, they must pay a $2,500 assessment fee. If they do pass, the state waives the fee and adds a 12 percent salary increase for the full 10 years that the certification is good for. Teachers must renew their certification before the 10 years is up.

Union County Public Schools also adds a $2,000 supplement each year as long as a teacher is certified.

“The pay is huge, but I think probably the professional development is just as huge,” Superintendent Ed Davis said. Board certified teachers aren’t necessarily better teachers, he said, but it does mean they met “rigorous standards” and helps them grow professionally.

“Many of the teachers who gravitate toward that are already good teachers,” he said, but working toward certification can make them even better. “Anything worth having is worth working hard for.”

Florida ranks second in National Board Certification with 13,281 certified teachers; South Carolina is third with 7,293.

Clarke said the state is preparing to have a national certification for principals as well.

For more information on National Board Certification, go to www.nbpts.org.

NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHERS RECEIVE:

• Payment of the $2,500 assessment fee. (Teachers are obligated to teach in the state the following year whether or not they achieve certification.)

• Three paid release days from normal teacher responsibilities to develop their portfolios.

• A 12 percent salary supplement to the teachers’ regular salary, good for the 10-year life of the certification.

• Fifteen continuing education units.

• Union County adds a $2,000 salary supplement as long as they are certified.

TEACHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATE

Ambrose, Frank Piedmont High Adolescence and Young Adulthood/Social Studies-History

Barbee, Karen Piedmont Middle Physical Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood

Brown, Tiffany Waxhaw Elementary Generalist/Early Childhood

Carleton-Smith, Pamela Sandy Ridge Elementary Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood

Coppa, Dana Rea View Elementary Generalist/Early Childhood

Craven, Leslie Sun Valley Middle Music/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood

Dove, Crystal Rock Rest Elementary Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood

Earnheart, Laurie Cuthbertson Middle English Language Arts/Early Adolescence

Fleck, Terri Weddington Middle English Language Arts/Early Adolescence

Gaines, Lashenna Benton Heights Elementary Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood

Garner, Jessica Porter Ridge High World Languages Other than English/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood

Gaughan, Theresa Kensington Elementary Generalist/Early Childhood

Gersfeld, Julie Marvin Ridge High Career and Technical Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood

Guckenberger, Jennifer Antioch Elementary Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood

Harlow, Sarah Porter Ridge Middle Art/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood

Harpham, Carmen Marvin Ridge Middle Mathematics/Early Adolescence

Hill, Kristina New Salem Elementary Art/Early and Middle Childhood

Jacobus, Rhonda New Town Elementary School Counseling/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood

Jones, Susan Union Elementary Library Media/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood

Lepsig, Kelly Monroe High English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood

Leroy. Ellen Wolfe School Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood

Livesey, Mary Shiloh Elementary Generalist/Early Childhood

Marsden, Jodi Weddington High Mathematics/Adolescence and Young Adulthood

Mcleod, Stephanie Walter Bickett Elementary Generalist/Early Childhood

Ormond Harris, Kary Cuthbertson Middle Career and Technical Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood

Pate, Caroline Weddington High Mathematics/Adolescence and Young Adulthood

Peck, April Sandy Ridge Elementary Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood

Quinlan, Christina Rock Rest Elementary Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood

Ryder, Jeremy Waxhaw Elementary Music/Early and Middle Childhood

Schelb, Christina Marvin Ridge Middle Mathematics/Early Adolescence

Shaw, Lisa Rea View Elementary Library Media/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood

Shuford, Jill Weddington High Art/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood

Simpson, Allison Parkwood Middle Social Studies - History/Early Adolescence

Tolentino, Christy Sun Valley High Career and Technical Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood

Webb, Lisa Forest Hills High Career and Technical Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood

Whitley, Allison Fairview Elementary Generalist/Early Childhood

Wiggs, Jessica New Town Elementary Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood

Wilhelm, Susan South Providence Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood