Penn Alexander Teachers Earn National Certification

 

December 17, 2010 - Nine teachers in the Penn Alexander School have achieved National Board Certification, the highest level of certification in the field of teaching.

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) developed standards for what effective teachers should know and be able to do, along with a process to determine whether individual teachers meet these criteria. 

To earn certification, a teacher must complete four portfolios that include written commentary and videos of classroom teaching that explicitly describes, analyzes and reflects on student work, teacher accomplishments and teaching practices. Teachers also must document how their teaching meets the standards and has a positive impact on student learning. The final step is a three-hour computerized assessment measuring the teacher's content knowledge and chosen area of certification. 

Two teachers at the school – Kate Naughton (Frst Grade) and Darlene Schaffer (Learning Support) had been awarded the certification previously. Joining them in the most recent round are: 

  • Arlene Brown (Middle School Math)
  • Mary Ann Milewski (Second Grade)
  • Richard Staniec (Middle School Science)
  • Melissa Trusty (Kindergarten)
  • Hillary (Ehling) Tubin (Middle School Literacy)
  • Megan Wapner (Middle School Literacy)
  • Lisa Waters (Second Grade)

Opened in 2001, the Penn Alexander School is a state-of-the-art university-assisted PreK-8 neighborhood public school created through a collaboration among the University of Pennsylvania, the School District of Philadelphia, and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. 


 

Media contact: Jill DiSanto-Haines at 215-898-4820 or jdisanto@upenn.edu