National Board’s new board members include the nation’s top educator, leaders from Washington and West Virginia

ARLINGTON, Va. – December 4, 2019 – The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), announced today the election of three prominent educators to its Board of Directors, including the 2018 National Teacher of the Year, the 2017 West Virginia Teacher of the Year and a new teacher mentor and author.

“I couldn’t be more excited to welcome our newly elected Board members. They bring a wide range of experience and insight and I’m confident that they will help us advance our mission,” said Peggy Brookins, National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT), president and CEO of the National Board.

Joining the NBPTS Board of Directors are:

  • Mandy Manning, NBCT, English Teacher at Joel E. Ferris High School in Spokane, Washington and the 2018 National Teacher of the Year
  • Toni Poling, NBCT, AP English Teacher at Fairmont Senior High School in Fairmont, WV and the 2017 West Virginia Teacher of the Year
  • Shannon Rasmussen, NBCT, new teacher mentor with Federal Way School District in Washington and author of several books, including Super Sub (lesson plans for substitute teachers, co-written with her mother).

These new directors were elected during the National Board’s November board meeting to join 26 other education and business professionals who serve three-year terms on the NBPTS Board — including former Commissioner of the Kentucky Board of Education, Terry Holliday, who serves as chair. The majority of NBPTS board members are NBCTs.

“Our Board of Directors and the National Board staff work daily to increase the number of National Board Certified Teachers across the nation and to ensure that all students have the best possible teacher. Our new board members add to an already strong Board of Directors,” said Dr. Holliday. “The range of experience on this board is a powerful force that helps the National Board elevate the teaching profession.”

Members retiring from the Board of Directors include: Tammy Dunn, NBCT, Chief Program Officer at A+ College Ready from Hoover, Alabama; Montserrat Garibay, NBCT, Secretary-Treasurer of the Texas AFL-CIO from Austin, Texas; and Daniela Robles, NBCT, Director of Teaching and Learning with the Balsz School District from Tempe, Arizona.

Nationwide, more than 122,000 teachers have achieved National Board Certification, demonstrating that they have met the profession’s highest standards for accomplished practice. National Board Certification is available in 25 certificate areas, from Pre-K through 12th grade.

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About the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (www.nbpts.org):

The founding mission of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is to advance the quality of teaching and learning by: maintaining high and rigorous standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do; providing a national voluntary system certifying teachers who meet these standards, and advocating related education reforms to integrate National Board Certification in American education and to capitalize on the expertise of National Board Certified Teachers. Recognized as the “gold standard” in teacher certification, the National Board believes higher standards for teachers means better learning for students.