In seeking to help their students earn high marks, two more Sequim teachers earned high marks themselves.

Shannon Green, Greywolf Elementary third-grade teacher, and Marcia Garrett, Sequim Middle School sixth- and eighth-grade science teacher, both recently earned National Board Certification status.

That gives the Sequim School District 25 teachers on staff with national board certification status, an advanced credential created by teachers that is considered the profession’s mark for accomplished teaching. To date, more than 110,000 teachers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia have achieved National Board Certification.

Like other board candidates, Green and Garrett completed a series of assessments that are reviewed by other teachers. Among other submittals, they created portfolio entries that feature teaching practices — including video recordings and samples of student work — and submitted those portfolios last March. The submissions were then reviewed and candidates got results from the National Board this fall.

“After teaching for seven years, I realized that I wanted to advance the quality of my teaching and student learning,” Green said. “I am dedicated to this profession and my students. I know that the most important part of my job is having a meaningful impact on my students, by engaging students in purposeful learning experiences tied to their unique needs and interests. National Boards has helped me grow stronger in leadership and collaboration with my community and district.”

Garrett received her national board certification in 2006 and was recertified this school year.

“I chose to spend the last 10 years working toward this National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification renewal,” Garrett said. “When I first certified, I realized so much more was possible in my teaching than I had previously believed. I made a conscious choice to keep applying the teaching standards to my own teaching practice. I also chose to become more involved in the professional development of other teachers, hoping they would become more excited about high-quality teaching.”

Garrett served two years as the district science instruction coordinator in the Shoreline School District and the past seven years as a support facilitator for national board candidates.

“These are responsibilities I took on with (the) certification renewal in mind,” Garrett said. “I am always inspired to spend time with amazing teachers. I learn much about how to increase student learning from their work.”

Sequim educators with National Board Certification status include: Brian Berg, Sheri Burke, Christy Ditlefsen, Matt Duchow, Marcia Garrett, Shannon Green, Laura Gould, Stephanie Grotzke Nash, Jim Heintz, Charles Kleinberg, Kimberly Knudson, Mark Knudson, Ione Marcy, Stuart Marcy, Brad Moore, Renee Mullikin, Shannon Paselk, Isaac Rapelje, Linsay Rapelje, Chelsea Reichner, Jake Reichner, Rebecca Stanton, Joe Sullivan, Jennifer Van De Wege and Jorn VanDeWeghe.

“I applaud the teachers who have devoted their time, energy and resources to improve upon their practice,” Sequim schools superintendent Gary Neal said. “(National Board Certification) inspires professionals to undergo a deep reflection of their practice with the ultimate goal of improving student success.”

The board certification process is being revised to incorporate the latest research on best practices in teaching. These changes are slowly being implemented over a three-year period, educators say, and the first group to certify under the new system will be in December 2017.

There are 21 candidates in Sequim and another seven in Port Angeles schools.

“The new system is designed to encourage more teachers to participate,” said Sequim High School teacher Stuart Marcy, who received his National Board Certification in 2009 and serves as a support facilitator for the NBC program, said.

For more information about National Board Certification program, visit www.nbpts.org.