Twenty-four Lake Washington educators achieve, maintain National Board Certification

Highest certification an educator can achieve

Redmond, Wash. – Twenty-four Lake Washington School District educators achieved or maintained their National Board Certification®, as announced by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). Sixteen educators were certified for the first time, and eight educators maintained their certification this year. Certifications must be renewed every five years. Educators from around the district completed the process and were recognized at the School Board Meeting on February 23. 

According to NBPTS, 353 educators working in Lake Washington Schools have earned their certification. National Board Certification is considered the highest professional credential an educator can obtain.

"National Board Certification reflects a deep commitment to excellence, and we are proud to recognize and congratulate our educators for achieving this significant milestone,” noted Dr. Jon Holmen, Superintendent.

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 12,869. 

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

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

• Eastlake: 
  • Mead Elementary
    • Elizabeth Hanna – Early and Middle Childhood Literacy: Reading-Language Arts
  • Eastlake High School
    • Augustus Anchondo – Adolescence and Young Adulthood Social Studies
    • Timothy Rogers – Adolescence and Young Adulthood Social Studies
• Juanita: 
  • Muir Elementary School 
    • Karen Murk – Early and Middle Childhood English as a New Language
  • Sandburg Elementary
    • Kerry Glassburn – Early Childhood-Young Adulthood Library Media
• Lake Washington: 
  • Lakeview Elementary School 
    • Samantha Panepinto – Early Adolescence English Language Arts
  • Rush Elementary
    • Kanani Galindo – Early and Middle Childhood Literacy
    • Jodie Howerton – Early and Middle Childhood English as a New Language
    • Madison Snyder – Early Childhood Generalist
  • Twain Elementary School:
    • Kari Ferrin – Early Childhood Generalist
    • Hailey Lombardo – Early Childhood-Young Adulthood Exceptional Needs Specialist
    • Kelli Osborn – Early Childhood-Young Adulthood Exceptional Needs Specialist: Mild to Moderate
  • Rose Hill Middle School
    • Danielle MacDonald – Early Childhood-Young Adulthood School Counseling
    • Jisoo Rhee – Early Adolescence-Young Adulthood English as a New Language
• Redmond:
  • Clara Barton Elementary
    • Claire Garrels – Early Childhood-Young Adulthood Exceptional Needs Specialist: Mild to Moderate
  • Redmond High School
    • Samantha Fedor – Adolescence and Young Adulthood Science: Biology

Educators maintaining their NBCT status:

• Eastlake:
  • Tesla STEM High School
    • Rebecca Townsend – Adolescence and Young Adulthood Science: Biology
• Juanita:
  • Muir Elementary School
    • Kacie Morison – Middle Childhood Generalist
  • Finn Hill Middle School
    • Grant Greenman – Early Adolescence English Language Arts
  • Kamiakin Middle School
    • Kristin Dougherty – Early Adolescence Science
• Lake Washington:
  • International Community School
    • Paul Plank – Adolescence and Young Adulthood English Language Arts
• Redmond:
  • Redmond Middle School
    • Dena Kernish – Early Adolescence English Language Arts
  • Timberline Middle School
    • Claudia VanCleemput – Early Adolescence-Young Adulthood World Languages: French
  • Redmond High School
    • Brian Schnierer – Adolescence and Young Adulthood Science: Chemistry

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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 30,100 students in 55 schools.