APS Ranks 13th Nationally in Number of 2009 Board Certified Teachers

January 12, 2010

Fifty-nine Albuquerque Public Schools teachers achieved National Board Certification in 2009, ranking the district 13th nationally in the number of teachers earning the distinguished honor last year.

Though APS teaches about a third of the state’s students, its 235 board certified teachers make up nearly half of the state’s 482 teachers who have achieved national certification. More than 60 percent of the New Mexico teachers who achieved board certification in 2009 are APS teachers.

“We couldn’t be prouder of the 59 APS teachers who earned National Board Certification in 2009, and of all of the nearly 500 teachers in our district who over time have met the high and rigorous standards established by the National Board,” said APS Superintendent Winston Brooks. “Teachers who have met this challenge reflect our district’s efforts to reform education and improve student learning.”

Nearly 8,900 teachers nationwide achieved certification in 2009, bringing the total number of teachers certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards to more than 82,000. New Mexico ranks 26th nationally in total number of nationally certified teachers.

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan and nongovernmental organization that advances the quality of teaching and learning by developing professional standards for accomplished teaching. National Board Certification is a voluntary system that certifies teachers who meet high and rigorous standards.

The APS teachers who were certified in 2009 include: Alyssa Agranat, Liliana Arvizu, Diane Baca, Laura Berlin, Joe Buck, Christine Castillo, Kathryn Chavez, Carol Cummings, Nancy Dye, Sharon Eanes, Laurel Farner, Darla Fields, Linda Fredericks, Rebecca Frick, Amanda Gaylord, Marissa Hamilton, Rachael Hattler, Karen Homstead , Agapita Hopkins, Rachel Horwitz, Elizabeth Hudson, Wesley Hurley, Marianne Ireland, Lisa Jones, Kara Kakuska, Susan Karaskiewicz, Aleita Kiwanuka, Elizabeth Kunz, Jeffrey Lambert, Mary Sue Laurel-Garwood, Utako Legler, Brenda Lyons, Levon Lytle, Helen Maloney, Lesa McBride, Hanna McCabe, Matthew McCracken, Lauren McDougall, Doris Merzweiler, H. Melissa Mick, Nicole Montague, Thomas Moppert, Theresa Muxworthy, Paul Nurre, Renee Olona, David Ondrik, Brenda Padilla, Joe Perez, Valorie Rigby, Laura Speer, Charles Steele, Richard Strong, Lisa Todd, Leann Tonjes, Betti Trahan, Sarah Vogt, Rhonda Wesson and Dawn Witiuk.

For more information on the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, visit http://www.nbpts.org/.