Newark Public Schools Identifies Teachers For National Board Certification

NEWARK, N.J. – In an effort to continue fostering excellence among the district’s teachers, Newark Public Schools officials announced today that 10 teachers have been selected to pursue the highest honor in the teaching profession: the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards’ National Board Certification (NBC).

To be selected, teachers were vetted through a rigorous application process during the winter months that required them to demonstrate evidence of their students’ positive gains and outcomes, and each applicant’s use of data to strengthen student learning was carefully evaluated. Applicants also submitted written reflections on instructional practice, résumés, and letters of recommendation. Principals also contributed insights on candidates’ instructional strengths and leadership qualities.

“This is an important milestone for Newark Public Schools as we launch our very first National Board Certification cohort,” said Superintendent León. “These ten extraordinary teachers are deeply reflective, relentlessly committed to student learning, and constantly striving to elevate their practice. Their selection underscores the tremendous talent that exists in our classrooms and aligns directly with our strategic plan to cultivate the next generation of master teachers and instructional leaders. I am proud of each of them, and I look forward to supporting their journey through this rigorous and transformational process.”

“The Board of Education is thrilled to celebrate these ten educators who have earned a place in Newark’s inaugural National Board Certification cohort,” said Board of Education President Hasani K. Council. “Their dedication, expertise, and unwavering belief in our students exemplify the excellence we expect and champion throughout this district. We commend them for taking this bold step in pursuing National Board Certification and proudly stand behind them as they embark on this path toward distinguished teaching.”

“We wanted to make sure that we were selecting the most distinguished group of individuals, and we did not make it easy,” said Dr. Yolanda Mendez, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, at the first meeting with the selected teachers on Wednesday at the Dr. Marion A. Bolden Student Center. “We are going to put you with a cohort of individuals that are as distinguished as you are.”

The selected teachers are: 

• Tracy Blazquez, Franklin School, English Language Arts (ELA) coach, K-8, with a focus on grades 3 and 4
• Tatiana Folling, Franklin School, interventionist, grades 5-8
• Magalie Alvarez-Mahabir, East Side High School, AP Spanish Language & Culture teacher
• Ann Jansen, Hawthorne Avenue School, teacher, grade 2
• Veronica Barahona-Meza, Lincoln School, visual arts teacher, pre-K to 8
• Selenia Vega, Louise A. Spencer School, grade 1
• Tehmina Qureshi, Park Elementary School, ELA grade 6
• Chanel Hollis, Speedway Avenue School, grade 3
• Hermethia Haynes, Thirteenth Avenue School, science, grades 7 and 8
• Candice Mabry, Thirteenth Avenue School, English as a Second Language (ESL), grades 2 and 3

In the coming months, the teachers will be engaged in research, compiling lesson artifacts, creating videos, meeting regularly to discuss their progress toward completing the National Board Certification requirements, and participating in a summer institute during which they will complete additional projects. There is also a comprehensive exam that constitutes 40 percent of the certification criteria.

The benefits of the National Board Certification include improved pedagogical skills resulting from the certification’s deeply reflective process that leads to better classroom engagement and more effective instruction. Student achievement has also been seen to increase in classes taught by board-certified teachers. And there is the undeniable recognition of a board-certified teacher having achieved the national gold standard in the teaching profession.

The district also sees benefits. The participating teachers, who have already been recognized as among the best in the district, have a greater incentive to remain in the district, reducing teacher attrition. By participating in the program, the teachers are committed to remaining in the district for at least three years after they obtain the certification.

This year’s inaugural cohort will also have the benefit of Theresa Finkelstein serving as the NBC coordinator. Finkelstein, an assistant principal at the Franklin School, earned the National Board Certification in 2012.

“We can get lost day-to-day when we’re in our schools. There are 10,000 things going on, and you have to solve them, and you have to go home and plan, and you get into this cycle,” Finkelstein said. “This process makes you stop really think about things and devote time to becoming a leader within your craft.”