Teachers Receive Highest Mark of Professional Achievement

Left to Right: Diala Chaney, Robelene Coleman, Sherilyn Coleman, Amanda Smiley, Kelly Whitten.
Photo provided by the OSD

Five Oxford School District teachers earned the highest mark of professional accomplishment by achieving National Board Certification.

Recognized as the “gold standard” in teacher certification, National Board Certification is a voluntary, advanced teaching credential that goes beyond state licensure. The National Board certifies teachers who successfully complete its rigorous certification process that takes one to three years.

Newly National Board Certified Teachers are:
Diala Chaney: Journalism/Newspaper at Oxford High School
Certification Area: Career and Technical Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood

Sherilyn Coleman: Remedial Math at Oxford Middle School
Certification Area: Mathematics/Early Adolescence

Amanda Smiley: Biology 9/Earth Science at Oxford High School
Certification Area: Science/Early Adolescence

Kelly Whitten: 4th grade Math/Science at Della Davidson
Certification Area: Generalist/Early Childhood

Robelene Coleman: 1st grade Oxford Elementary
Certification Area: Generalist/Early Childhood

According to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, “schools with NBCTs have strong professional communities focused on leadership, learning, and collaboration. These schools are characterized by higher rates of teacher morale and retention and increased community involvement.”

The Oxford School District has 63 teachers, counselors, and administrators who have obtained National Board Certification. Currently, Mississippi has 4,165 National Board Certified teachers with 855 candidates currently attempting National Board Certification.

National Board Certification is available nationwide for prekindergarten (pre-K) through 12th-grade teachers. To be eligible to apply for board certification, a teacher must hold a bachelor’s degree, completed three full years of teaching or school counseling, and have a valid state teaching or school counseling license.

Teachers receive a $6,000 annual bonus upon completion of certification plus reimbursement for fees incurred for certification. Mississippi grants license recertification/renewal for 5 years upon completion. In addition, they receive leadership and mentorship opportunities.

Courtesy of Oxford School District