Twelve Alachua County Public School teachers have been awarded national certification this year, considered the gold standard for the teaching profession.

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) has announced the names of all teachers across the country who earned the prestigious certification in 2008, including the group here in Alachua County.

Overall, more than 140 current Alachua County teachers are nationally certified, which is recognized at both the state and federal level as a strong indicator of teacher quality.

“National certification means a teacher is among the very best in the nation,” said Superintendent Dan Boyd. “We’re fortunate to have these teachers working with the students in our community.”

Certification is achieved through a rigorous performance-based assessment that takes about a year to complete. Through the assessment process, teachers document their subject matter knowledge, provide evidence that they are teaching their students effectively and demonstrate their ability to manage and measure their students’ progress. That means submitting student portfolios, providing mounds of data, even sending a videotape of themselves teaching.

David Javsicas teaches fifth-graders at Stephen Foster Elementary School. He’s been teaching for five years. He says working toward national certification forced him to consider everything he does in the classroom.

“Quality teachers are able to analyze their own work effectively,” said Javsicas. “This helps you do that. I feel more confident about what I do and how I do it.”

Terwilliger Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Tammy Shintock has been in the classroom for 16 years.  She says even veterans like her benefit from the certification process.

“It’s definitely made me a better teacher,” she said. “The questions posed during the process lead you to more self-inquiry and help you focus on what’s most important.”

The teachers who have earned certification are now eligible for a state bonus. The size of the bonus will be determined by the amount of state funding available and the total number of eligible teachers in the state. The national certification is valid for ten years.

The teachers will also be recognized at a special reception in January.

Alachua County Public Schools’ newly-certified teachers are: