A half dozen teachers in Covington area schools have become National Board Certified Teachers according to the Kent School District.

The six teachers who earned this certification are: Susan Bailey, an exceptional needs specialist at Covington Elementary, Kentlake Spanish teacher Marla Boyd, Rebecca Fry and Stacey Gruenich, both exceptional needs specialists at Jenkins Creek Elementary, Kentlake social studies teacher Chase Parsley and Elizabeth Zamora, a Spanish teacher at Kentwood.

These teachers have typically spent at least 400 hours working on their applications and portfolios. This includes a video of a lesson, a detailed narrative of what occurred during that lesson, essays about the teacher’s beliefs and theories related to teaching and learning, and reflective writing regarding their teaching strategies.

Congressionally mandated research has determined that national certification has a positive impact on teacher retention, student achievement, and professional development.

These six teachers were among 25 KSD educators who earned National Board Certification this year.

Superintendent Dr. Edward Lee Vargas said, “On behalf of the KSD Board of Directors and the KSD staff, I congratulate these teachers for this excellent achievement. This is a great example of the dedication and commitment KSD staff has toward providing a quality education for each and every one of our students.”