Seven Rochester teachers earned their National Board Certification in 2007, bringing to 40 the number of teachers in the Rochester City School District who are recognized as among the nation’s top educators. The seven teachers will be recognized at the Rochester Board of Education meeting on Thursday, January 24. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.

National Board Certification is the highest credential in the teaching profession. Earning their national certification in 2007 were:

• Janet Bird, kindergarten, School No. 50
  
  
• Doug Brown, mathematics, East High School
  
  
• Stefan Cohen, social studies, School of the Arts
  
  
• Joan Crosby, first grade, School No. 6
  
  
• Jennifer Manley, mathematics, Wilson Foundation Academy
  
  
• Nilza Matos, first grade, Dual Language Program, School No. 33
  
  
• Ali Ricci, third grade, World of Inquiry School
  

This is the largest “class” of new National Board Certified teachers in a single year for Rochester. The increase is in contrast to a statewide decrease in the number of nationally certified teachers this year.

“There is no substitute for great teaching,” said Rochester Superintendent of Schools Jean-Claude Brizard. “Great leadership matters but achievement and innovation does not happen unless we have great teachers in our classrooms. These teachers exemplify excellence and should be role models for aspiring as well as veteran teachers. They deserve our praise and sincere gratitude.”  

"We congratulate our newest NBPTS-certified teachers,” said Adam Urbanski, president of the Rochester Teachers Association. “These accomplished colleagues are good examples of so many other highly knowledgeable, skilled, and caring teachers in the Rochester City School District who dedicate themselves each and every day to all of our students. We are very proud of all of them."

State, County Comparison

With 40, Rochester has significantly more nationally certified teachers than the state’s other large urban districts outside of New York City. Buffalo and Syracuse each have four and Albany and Yonkers each have two.

Rochester also has nearly as many nationally certified teachers as Monroe County’s 18 suburban school districts combined (45), despite having fewer teachers. Rochester has 3,600 teachers, about half as many as the suburban districts combined.

Rigorous Process

A voluntary process established by NBPTS, National Board Certification is achieved through a rigorous, performance-based assessment that typically takes one to three years to complete. Candidates are assessed on how well they demonstrate what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do.

As part of the process, teachers build a portfolio that includes student work samples, assignments, videotapes, and a thorough analysis of their classroom teaching. They are also assessed on their knowledge of the subjects they teach.  

For more information, visit www.nbpts.org.

Thirteen Years of National Certification

As the number of nationally certified teachers in Rochester grows, the support network for new candidates becomes stronger.

“Our numbers are growing due to the wonderful dedication of our teachers who are candidates for certification and the exhaustive efforts of our district's National Board Certified teachers to support their colleagues in pursuing this credential,” said Stephen O’Hara, a math teacher at Monroe High School. O’Hara earned his national certification in 2005 and is part of a districtwide support network for new candidates.

Rochester teachers who earned their National Board Certification in previous years are:


2006:

Heather Belanger, Khieta Davis, Roxane Gifaldi, Juan Melendez, Lynn O’Brien


2005:

Diane Hamilton, Stephen O’Hara, Elizabeth Smith, Karen Soanes, Nancy Sundberg


2004:

Deanne Delehanty, Melissa Neill-Adams, Michael Occhino, Margaret Perticone, George Wolfe


2003:

Gina Menaguale, Rebecca Nagar, Joe Zuniga


2002:

Linda Ann Connors, Charles Hall, Kim Michels, Kelle Little, Tracy Maggio


2001:

Mary Kay Bellwood, Robin Hill, Luci Stone, Carrie Varno


2000:

Patricia Marino


1999:

Sue Salzman, Jennifer Tomm DiPasquale


1994:

Bonnie Dorschel, Donna Gattelaro-Anderson, Tom Gillett