Last Updated on 3/14/2010

Published on 12/16/2009

Eleven teachers in Georgetown County are among the 799 in the state who earned their National Board Certification this year.
They are: Debra Barney of Andrews High; Melinda Cannon of McDonald Elementary; Gail Hendriks of Browns Ferry Elementary; Joan Howard of Waccamaw High; Tricia Huges of Rosemary Middle;
Amy Norton of McDonald Elementary; Karen Owens of Plantersville Elementary; Joanna Price of Carvers Bay High;
Michael Proctor of Kensington Elementary; Terrijane Russ of Georgetown Middle and Deanne Shelley of Kensington Elementary.
This year’s number of new National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) brings the state’s total to 7,298, which is the third highest in the country behind North Carolina and Florida. NBCTs represent approximately 14 percent of the state’s teaching force of nearly 50,000 teachers.
“The number of National Board Candidates and National Board Certified Teachers speaks volumes to the dedication South Carolina educators have for their students and the profession,” said Jenna Hallman, National Board Program Director with the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement.
The National Board process defines the knowledge, skills and accomplishments that symbolize teaching excellence. It was created so teachers, like professionals in other fields, can achieve distinction by demonstrating through a demanding performance assessment that they meet high and rigorous standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do.
“I commend these outstanding teachers for aspiring to such high standards of excellence,” said State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex.  “The National Board process is a rigorous one that requires a tremendous amount of hard work.  Teachers tell me all the time that it’s by far the most rewarding experience of their professional careers.  Ultimately, it impacts where the rubber meets the road: teaching and learning in the classroom.”