Rogers Teachers Earn National Certification

Friday, December 14, 2012

— Ten local teachers received National Board Certification this year.

Nine teachers from the Rogers School District and one at Benton County School of Arts were awarded certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

The nine Rogers School District teachers are:

• Elizabeth Spicer, an English teacher at Rogers High School.

• Mindy Brown, a social studies teacher at Rogers High School.

• Olivia Slone, an art teacher at Elza Tucker Elementary.

• Rea Smith, a math facilitator at Westside and Reagan elementaries.

• Lindsey Phillips, a history teacher at Elmwood Middle School.

• Nancy Copeland, a math teacher at Elmwood Middle School.

• Cherie Gideon, a math teacher at Elmwood Middle School.

• Amy Smallwood, a fifth-grade teacher at Grace Hill Elementary.

• Pat Lewis, a reading teacher at Old Wire Road Elementary.

Jeannine Smith, seventh- and eighth-grade science teacher at School of the Arts was recognized by the charter school’s board on Dec. 4.

Teachers in the Rogers School District are excellent, said Roger Hill, assistant superintendent for human resources. To get National Board Certification, teachers have to evaluate their own instructional style.

“The process takes them to the next level,” Hill said.

Web Watch

National Board For Professional Teaching Standards

For more information visit www.nbpts.org/become_a_candidate/what_is_national_board_c.

Being designated as National Board certified is an honor, Hill said. Some who begin the process will not finish.

“It’s not just given to everyone,” he said.

Rogers has 94 teachers with the certification employed at the district. Approximately 1,000 teachers and administrators are employed by the district, Hill said.

The board certification does not replace a state teacher’s license. It is valid for 10 years, according to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards website. Candidates submit four portfolio reviews of their work and six written tests for analysis.