Highest certification an educator can achieve

Redmond, Wash. – Fifty-four Lake Washington School District educators achieved or renewed their National Board Certification®, as announced by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). Six educators were certified for the first time and 48 educators renewed their certification this year; certifications must be renewed every ten years. Educators from around the district completed the process and will be recognized at an upcoming School Board Meeting. 

According to NBPTS, 292 educators working in Lake Washington Schools have earned their certification. National Board certification is considered the highest professional credential an educator can obtain.

“We are incredibly proud of our National Board Certified educators and the work they have put in,” noted Dr. Jon Holmen, Superintendent. “National Board Certification shows a strong commitment to pursuing a high standard of excellence as an education professional. I want to offer my heartfelt congratulations to the educators who achieved this certification for their demonstration of commitment to complete this process.”

Certification is a one- to five-year process that includes taking an assessment and assembling three portfolios. According to the NBPTS, completing the certification shows that each educator knows and practices “the definitive standards of accomplished teaching.”

Numbers released by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards show the state of Washington is third overall in the number of National Board Certified Teachers in the country at 12,011. 

Each educator achieves certification in a subject area and age range.

The new National Board Certified educators are (arranged by LWSD learning area):

• Juanita: 
  • Frost Elementary School:
    • Mia Orloff - Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early And Middle Childhood
  • Sandburg Elementary School:
    • Jessica Soltani - Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood Through Young Adulthood
• Eastlake: 
  • Eastlake High School
    • Amber Owen-Clifford - School Counseling/Early Childhood Through Young Adulthood
  • Tesla STEM High School:
    • Kelly Wescott - School Counseling/Early Childhood Through Young Adulthood
  • Alcott Elementary School: 
    • Fareeha Nasir - Generalist/Middle Childhood
• Lake Washington:
  • Franklin Elementary School:
    • Victoria Jacobson - Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early And Middle Childhood

Educators renewing their NBCT status:

• Lake Washington: 
  • Northstar Middle School:
    • Lua Carlson - Science/Early Adolescence
  • Kirk Elementary:
    • Whitney Clarkin - Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early And Middle Childhood
  • Emerson High School:
    • William Gardner - Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood Through Young Adulthood
  • Lake Washington High School:
    • Heidi Menzenberg-Zvilna - Music/Early Adolescence Through Young Adulthood
    • Casey Rummel - English Language Arts/Adolescence And Young Adulthood
    • Bethany Shoda - Social Studies-History/Adolescence And Young Adulthood
  • Stella Schola Middle School:
    • Judy Ronning-Larson - English Language Arts/Early Adolescence
  • Twain Elementary School:
    • Julie Thomas - Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early And Middle Childhood
  • Kirkland Middle School:
    • Sara Ward - English Language Arts/Early Adolescence
• Juanita: 
  • Kamiakin Middle School:
    • Julie Bergevin - Mathematics/Early Adolescence
    • Rachael Larsen - Art/Early Adolescence Through Young Adulthood
    • Seema Vaze - Mathematics/Early Adolescence
    • Rachael Perkins 
  • Finn Hill Middle School:
    • Patricia Bergstrom - Science/Early Adolescence
    • Kyla Thompson - English Language Arts/Early Adolescence
  • Juanita High School:
    • Eric Carlson - Mathematics/Adolescence And Young Adulthood
    • Alexandra Pike - Science/Adolescence And Young Adulthood
  • Juanita Elementary School:
    • Kelly Kirkness - Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood Through Young Adulthood
  • International Community School:
    • Timothy McFaul - Science/Adolescence And Young Adulthood
    • Mark Rayder - Art/Early Adolescence Through Young Adulthood
• Redmond:
  • Timberline Middle School: 
    • Jacquelyn Coons - School Counseling/Early Childhood Through Young Adulthood
    • Tracy Felton - English Language Arts/Early Adolescence
  • Ella Baker Elementary:
    • Robin Miller - Generalist/Middle Childhood
    • Natalya Stine - Generalist/Middle Childhood
  • Redmond High School:
    • Amy Chackel - Art/Early Adolescence Through Young Adulthood
    • Jeff Gehring - Science/Adolescence And Young Adulthood
    • Alison Kairis - World Languages/Early Adolescence Through Young Adulthood
    • Jordan Swain - Art/Early Adolescence Through Young Adulthood
    • Stephen Thornsberry - Mathematics/Early Adolescence
    • Macy Zwanzig - Science/Adolescence And Young Adulthood
  • Clara Barton Elementary School:
    • Jennifer McCreary - Generalist/Middle Childhood
  • Mann Elementary School: 
    • Sara Rigby - Generalist/Middle Childhood
  • Rosa Parks Elementary School:
    • Deborah Sung - Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood Through Young Adulthood
    • Klint Van Cleemput - Physical Education/Early And Middle Childhood
• Eastlake:
  • Eastlake High School:
    • Jyoti Bawa - Science/Early Adolescence
    • Sandra Don Chokr - World Languages/Early Adolescence Through Young Adulthood
    • Christine Everson - Mathematics/Adolescence And Young Adulthood
    • Laura Flagg - Art/Early Adolescence Through Young Adulthood
    • Emma Morris - Science/Adolescence And Young Adulthood
    • John Norris - English Language Arts/Adolescence And Young Adulthood
    • Michelle Okroy - Science/Adolescence And Young Adulthood
    • Shelby Ruge - Science/Adolescence And Young Adulthood
  • Inglewood Middle School:
    • Thomas Nash - Mathematics/Early Adolescence
  • McAuliffe Elementary School:
    • Michelle Toth - Generalist/Middle Childhood
  • Wilder Elementary:
    • Michelle Vallene - Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early And Middle Childhood
• ​​​​​​​District Administration:
  • Resource Center:
    • Rachelle Horner - Social Studies-History/Adolescence And Young Adulthood
    • Krystal Stephens - Social Studies-History/Early Adolescence
    • Theresa Vasquez - World Languages/Early Adolescence Through Young Adulthood

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Lake Washington School District is a high-performing public school district serving Kirkland, Redmond, and Sammamish, Washington. It is the second largest district in the state of Washington, with over 30,500 students in 57 schools.