The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards announced that eleven Montana teachers have successfully earned National Board Certification (NBC).
According to the Montana Professional Teaching Foundation (MPTF), which administers the program in Montana, Montana now has 139 National Board Certified Teachers.
“These educators are GREAT representatives of Montana teachers who work every day to give our students the absolute best education possible,” said MPTF Chair Eric Feaver.
Achieving National Board Certification is no easy feat. Candidates have up to three years to complete four component entries documenting their teaching performance. There are three classroom-centered components one of which must include videotaped evidence of quality instruction. Most candidates spend from 120 to 200 hours preparing these components with the intent of subjecting their performance to rigorous professional peer evaluation.
Once they have submitted their classroom components candidates sit for a written performance assessment targeted to measure ability to instruct and convey information to students.
Candidates do not learn if they have successfully earned National Board Certification for nearly six months after they have completed all their work.
Feaver went on to say that students across the state benefit when teachers achieve National Board Certification. “NBC teachers are change agents,” he said. “Many of them assume leadership roles in innovative educational efforts in their school, school district, and across Montana.”
The state of Montana provides a stipend of up to $2,000 per year to National Board Certified Teachers. In addition, many local school districts likewise provide an annual NBC stipend.
Following are the Montana’s eleven new National Board Certified teachers, their school districts, and their NBC specialty.
| First Name | Last Name | Employer District | Employer School | Certification: Certification Name |
| Heather | Schneiter | ARLEE SCHOOL DISTRICT | ARLEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood |
| Anne | Brownell-Tanner | ARLEE SCHOOL DISTRICT | ARLEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood |
| Sue | McCay | ARLEE SCHOOL DISTRICT | ARLEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood |
| Kayla | Fotheringham | HELENA SCHOOL DISTRICT | BROADWATER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood |
| Shena | Wald | BILLINGS SCHOOL DISTRICT | CASTLE ROCK MIDDLE SCHOOL | Mathematics/Early Adolescence |
| Sarah | Sandau | EAST HELENA SCHOOL DISTRICT | PICKLY PEAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood |
| Lucinda | McCausland | BOZEMAN SCHOOL DISTRICT | HAWTHORNE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood |
| Cassie | Koch | HELENA SCHOOL DISTRICT | HELENA MIDDLE SCHOOL | Mathematics/Early Adolescence |
| Annie | Douglas | BILLINGS SCHOOL DISTRICT | MCKINLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Generalist/Middle Childhood |
| Kristin | Merritt-Long | SHIELDS VALLEY DISTRICT | SHIELDS VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCH | Generalist/Middle Childhood |
| Judith | Vincent | SHIELDS VALLEY DISTRICT | SHIELDS VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCH | Generalist/Early Childhood |
The Montana Professional Teaching Foundation, based in Helena, works to promote and enhance the Montana teaching profession and quality education. The Foundation’s programs include:
- Karen Cox Memorial Grants to help teachers purchase innovative classroom resources
- National Board Certification & Candidate Support
- Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics & Science Teaching
- Jim McGarvey Scholarships