MOBILE, Alabama – Fifteen Mobile County Public Schools teachers just received the nation’s most respected professional certification for K-12 educators by becoming National Board Certified. That’s the highest number of new NBCT teachers in the state of Alabama.

They are:

• Melissa Coumanis, Burns Middle
• Jennifer Squires, Mary B. Austin
• Tiffany Reynolds, Dodge Elementary
• Stephanie Gavin, Council Traditional
• Nicole Landry, Mary G. Montgomery High
• Kristen Key, Tanner Williams Elementary
• Apryle Coats-Mather, Hutchens Elementary
• Jamie Bosarge, Bryant High
• Hillary Liesch, Council Traditional
• Kathleen Woodard, Dodge Elementary
• Morgan Mohler, Kate Shepard Elementary
• Mary Alice Pouliot, Barton Academy
• Denise Burch, Clark-Shaw Magnet
• Leslie Youkey, Collier Elementary
• Jaquelyn Deese, McDavid-Jones

The certification is in effect for five years. MCPSS also had 12 National Board Certified Teachers who renewed their certification. They are:

• Monica Bartley, Taylor-White Elementary
• Rebekah Campbell, Griggs Elementary
• Alana Dailey, Whitley Elementary
• James Duke, Davidson High
• Maegan Gayle, Eichold-Mertz Magnet
• Leslie Howard, Anna Booth Elementary
• Charley Jordan, Citronelle High
• Alicia Luttrell, Old Shell Road Magnet
• Tami May, Clark-Shaw Magnet
• Regina Parker, Alma Bryant High
• Deborah Pippin, Theodore High
• Jennifer Woods, Bryant Career Technical Center

These teachers will be recognized by Mobile County Public Schools this spring, and their names will be added as stars on the National Board Certified Teachers wall of the MCPSS Professional Development Center. MCPSS has 103 National Board Certified Teachers.

The National Board Certification program was designed to develop, retain and recognize accomplished teachers and to generate ongoing improvement in schools nationwide. Through a process that takes between one to three years to complete, teachers are tested on their content knowledge. They also video and analyze their teaching practice, reflect on student work samples and document the impact of student learning in their classroom.

“National Board Certification is the best professional development because it requires teachers to video themselves teaching and reflect on their practice. You can learn a lot about yourself as a teacher through video analysis,” said Dynette Ballard, MCPSS Coordinator of Professional Learning and Assessment.

Alabama teachers who are National Board Certified receive a $5,000 annual stipend from the state.

For more information, contact MCPSS Director of Communication Rena Philips.