Three teachers earn National Board Certification; one renews

Congratulations to three Hampton City Schools (HCS) teachers who recently earned their National Board Teacher certification. One teacher also renewed her certification. Teachers who earned their certification for the first time are: Dr. Sheila Barnhart-Ramirez, counselor at Langley Elementary; Jen Williams, kindergarten teacher at Mary S. Peake Elementary; and Jesse Reese, art teacher at Phenix PreK-8.

Barnhart-Ramirez is a seasoned school counselor with two decades of experience. A product of Hampton City Schools, she holds a master’s in school counseling from Old Dominion University and a doctorate in community care and counseling from Liberty University. Her commitment to creating a supportive environment for LGBTQ+ students is evident through her establishment of the Unity Club at Kilgore Gifted Center. Additionally, she is a registered play therapist and internationally credentialed sandtray therapist, actively sharing her knowledge through presentations on topics such as LGBTQ+ support, behavior management, anxiety, and the significance of play.

Williams is in her seventh year of teaching, all of which have been with Hampton City Schools. She has a passion for teaching in Title 1 schools and lives by the motto “Kindergarten for Life!” She has served as a curriculum writer, mentor, and climate coach. 

 

Reese is a transplant from Pittsburgh, PA. He graduated from Penn State with a bachelor’s in art education, and has 15 years of experience in the child development field. He is currently in his seventh year with Hampton City Schools and is pursuing his master’s in illustration at Savannah College of Art and Design.

 

Lyndsay McCabe renewed her National Board Certification. She is in her seventh year of teaching for Hampton City Schools as a middle school special educator and instructional leader at Jones Magnet Middle School. McCabe has her bachelor's degree in education and English from Hofstra University and her master's degree in English with an advanced certificate in teaching writing from Stony Brook University. She is currently working on her PhD in special education at the University of Northern Colorado with a focus on intersectionality in special education.

From the National Board Certification website:

National Board Certification is the most respected professional certification available in education and provides numerous benefits to teachers, students and schools. It was designed to develop, retain and recognize accomplished teachers and to generate ongoing improvement in schools nationwide.

While teacher licensure systems set the basic requirements to teach in each state, completion of National Board Certification signifies that teachers have voluntarily gone much further. NBCTs have developed and demonstrated the advanced knowledge, skills, and practices required of an outstanding educator.

Standards for each content area and developmental level are created by teachers, for teachers. They represent a consensus among educators about what accomplished, effective teachers should know and be able to do to improve student learning and achievement. Board certification is available in 25 certificate areas, from Pre-K through 12th grade.

Certification consists of four components: assessment of content knowledge, reflection on student work samples, video and analysis of teaching practice, and documentation of the impact of assessment and collaboration on student learning. Throughout its more than 25-year history, the National Board has sought to review and revise its standards and certification process to reflect best practices in teaching. Throughout the process, teachers will be able to apply what they have learned to their classroom practice and connect with other teachers pursuing certification. Recognizing the many demands on teachers’ time, the process is designed to be flexible, efficient, and affordable.