Becoming a National Board Certified Teacher is always a big honor. But earning the profession’s highest credential during a pandemic? That’s even more impressive.
As part of NBCT celebration week, NYSUT congratulated the 51 teachers from across the state who earned National Board Certification in December 2021 (see below for complete list). They will be honored later this spring in an online event hosted by NYSUT and the New York State Education Department.
“Achieving National Board Certification in the midst of a pandemic is a testament to the dedication these teachers have to their students and their profession,” NYSUT President Andy Pallotta said. “It’s a tremendous accomplishment.”
Join the online celebration in April!
Please join us online April 5 for a special livestream to congratulate New York State's newly certified National Board Certified Teachers and virtually celebrate these educators' commitment to their profession.
New York is now home to 2,224 National Board Certified Teachers, with nearly 700 more educators still in the process, according to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Candidates typically spend 200-400 hours completing the extensive application including a portfolio, student work samples, videos and analysis of their teaching and student learning.
“We began our journey three years ago before the pandemic hit,” said Lisa Cannata, a speech pathologist who worked with a cohort of Half Hollow Hills teachers led by Elissa Reichstein. “If you told me I’d be doing this while teaching my kids (with severe disabilities) on Zoom and documenting their growth in a video, I never would have believed you!”
Cannata said working with a group was incredibly helpful, with colleagues reading each other’s papers, offering technology tips and much more. “We met Saturdays and during shared free periods,” Cannata said. “Sometimes it's moral support, sometimes it's specific to our discipline. Other times, it is just reviewing the teaching standards and helix and discussing with our colleagues, how their teaching works within this framework.”
Cannata and three other teachers who were the first in the cohort to achieve will continue working with colleagues who are still working on their applications. “While doing this during a pandemic was certainly challenging, it really helped me grow collaboratively, technologically and creatively,” Cannata said. “Now I want to give back and help others on their journey.”
Cannata said she is fortunate that her district is one of hundreds in the state with contracts offering a salary step or stipend for NBCTs. She also is grateful for the state’s Albert Shanker Grant, a union-backed initiative that covers the costs for National Board Certification.
NYSUT Executive Vice President Jolene DiBrango said the union strongly supports national board candidates by offering awareness programs, support and advice through online discussion forums, writing retreats and professional development through its Education & Learning Trust. The union also works with teacher centers to support candidates.
Achieving National Board Certification can also be used to satisfy the state's new Continuing Teacher and Leader Education requirements, DiBrango noted. Through NYSUT's Education & Learning Trust and Empire State College, candidates can earn three graduate credits for each completed component for a total of 12 graduate credits. Many school districts provide compensation for graduate credits.
Want to know more? Teachers interested in pursuing National Board Certification can find resources online, including a support program, tips and a list of districts that offer incentives.
For NYSUT resources on National Board Certification, visit nysut.org/nbpts.
New York State’s Class of 2021 National Board Certified Teachers
CHITTENANGO TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
Elizabeth Carpenter
Science/AYA
CORNWALL CENTRAL TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
Olga Chernyak
World Languages/EAYA
GRAND ISLAND TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
Mary Howard
Generalist/MC
HALF HOLLOW HILLS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
Camellia Amadio
Exceptional Needs Specialist/ECYA
Lisa Cannata
Exceptional Needs Specialist/ECYA
Caroline Greene
Exceptional Needs Specialist/ECYA
Lauren Ruiz
Exceptional Needs Specialist/ECYA
HASTINGS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
Steven Lopez
World Languages/EAYA
HUDSON FALLS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
Sharon Farrell
English Language Arts/AYA
JAMESVILLE-DEWITT FACULTY ASSOCIATION
David Bunyan
Social Studies-History/AYA
Andrew Cottet
Social Studies-History/AYA
LAFAYETTE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
David Amidon
Science/EA
LONG BEACH CLASSROOM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
Christine Graham
Social Studies-History/AYA
PLAINEDGE FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
Maura Czachor
Mathematics/EA
SCHENECTADY FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
Rebecca Benjamin
Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/EMC
Donya Clute
Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/EMC
Jessica Kohout
Science/AYA
Ellen Lin
Science/AYA
Julie Neugebauer
Mathematics/EA
SEWANHAKA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
Joan Molloy-Castles
Exceptional Needs Specialist/ECYA
Lorin Wirth-Eckl
Exceptional Needs Specialist/ECYA
SMITHTOWN TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
Jennifer Keller
Social Studies-History/AYA
SPRINGS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
Ryan Scala
Generalist/MC
STILLWATER TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
Madison Ramnes
Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/EMC
SYOSSET TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
Manoj Thadhani
Social Studies-History/AYA
SYRACUSE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
Melicia Edwards
Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/EMC
UNITED FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
Michelle Asaro
Exceptional Needs Specialist/ECYA
Jihyun Bahng
Mathematics/AYA
Yvonne Banks
Generalist/EC
Katelyn Chinnis
Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/EMC
Ivelisse Cortes
Exceptional Needs Specialist/ECYA
Kiersten Franz
Mathematics/AYA
Diana Guerrini
Generalist/EC
Yesenia Moreno
English as a New Language/EMC
Mary Petit
Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/EMC
Vincent Pham
English as a New Language/EAYA
Sarah Przedborski
Generalist/EC
Cassandra Regan
Exceptional Needs Specialist/ECYA
Cynthia Serrano
Exceptional Needs Specialist/ECYA
Julia Shube
Mathematics/AYA
Jessica VanScoy
Social Studies-History/AYA
Susan Wierzbowski
Exceptional Needs Specialist/ECYA
UNITED LIVERPOOL FACULTY ASSOCIATION
Valerie Manzo
Generalist/EC
WAPPINGERS CT
Laura Ineson
Science/EA
WEST GENESEE DISTRICT TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
Kelli Barbuto
Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/EMC
YONKERS FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
Christine Heidelberger
Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/EMC
UNAFFILIATED
Molly Goodell
Science/EA
Grace Hwang
Generalist/EC
Chris Marshall
Exceptional Needs Specialist-ECYA
Kasey Rabideau
Social Studies-History/EA
Stephanie Schaefer
Mathematics/AYA
Key:
- AYA: Adolescence and Young Adulthood
- EA: Early Adolescence
- EAYA: Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
- EC: Early Childhood
- ECYA: Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
- EMC: Early and Middle Childhood
- MC: Middle Childhood
For NYSUT resources on National Board Certification, visit nysut.org/nbpts.