December 2001 - Lindbergh High School English teacher Laura Lee-Walrond has earned National Board Teacher Certification, one of only 6,500 teachers nationally who earned certification this year.

Considered a mark of teaching excellence, National Board Certification reflects a teacher’s voluntary efforts to embark on a rigorous, performance-based process that requires educators to document subject matter knowledge and instructional abilities.

Laura said she took on the year-long process to test herself and look at her best teaching practices based on high standards. Laura relishes the experience of teaching saying, “it’s an amazing profession.” Viewed by students and colleagues as a confidant as well as a teacher, Laura is helping others interested in the profession by mentoring a UW student teacher completing a master’s degree program. More teachers in Washington state achieved certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) than any other state in the country this year, with 42 of 60 achieving National Board Certification.

Successful candidates earn a 10-year certificate with different incentives attached in each state. In Washington, teachers who earn certification from the National Board receive a $3,500 annual stipend (based on appropriation from the Legislature); have their state teaching credentials renewed to match the length of the national certificate; and will be able to apply graduate credits earned while studying for the National Board Certification to advance degrees.