Nevada teachers attain master status
Thursday, Dec. 7, 2000 | 5:01 a.m.
Two dozen Nevada educators successfully completed a national program that recognizes their expertise in achieving excellence in teaching.
Of the 50 teachers in the state who applied, 24 earned the voluntary certification that is good for 10 years and is renewable.
"The bottom line for all this is how do we best serve the children," said Lana Hess, of Bunkerville, who received her certification. "It's one thing to love a child. It's another thing to educate them."
The program is administered by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, a not-for-profit agency based in Michigan that aims to create a rigorous standard of excellence for all teachers.
The process takes about 400 hours during a year and requires applicants to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of their content area, their profession, and their effectiveness in managing a classroom and reaching students. The cost is about $2,300.
There's no guarantee of success. Nationally, only about 44 percent of those seeking certification for the first-time are successful. Nevada's number reflects that, with 48 percent of the applicants earning their credential.
Nevada teachers who completed their certifications successfully are eligible for a one-time 5 percent pay increase. The state Department of Education also will grant them a 10-year license, something previously reserved for those with doctorates.
JoAnne Schlekewy, Clark County School District's director of human resources, said individuals who didn't make it on their first try can reapply, banking their successful materials and redoing the tests or tasks that did not meet national standards.
Although Clark County is the state's largest school district, the largest number of nationally certified teachers are in Washoe County, where there are 11. Nine are from Clark County, two are from Humboldt County, one is from Pershing County and another from Carson City.
Bowler Elementary School in Bunkerville, 75 miles northeast of Las Vegas, is three for three when it comes to national certification. Hess, Carol Livingston and Stephanie Mattson found that a year of searching the Internet for assistance and working together paid off with certification for each of them.
"It's a humbling experience," said Hess, a 31-year veteran of teaching. "We critically looked at each other's work and we knew it wasn't the time to be nice."
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Live Blog: Pacquiao wins by TKO in round twelve
- Clubs want to be ‘good citizen,’ so stripper-mobile ends its run
- Police seek man who stole $2,000 worth of clothing
- Nuclear plant in Ely could complicate radioactive waste, water issues
- Now we can all see Islamic extremism for what it truly is
- Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao: The only fight fans want to see
- Manny Pacquiao says he feels stronger than ever
- Ensign Federal Credit Union fails
- Small city struggles with shocking allegations
- Gorman tops Palo Verde to dance into Sunset finals
Blogs
Elsewhere
Dana White continues to push for event in Abu Dhabi
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Harry Reid is powerful for Northern Nevada, too!
The Kats Report
New face of Monte Carlo includes all the faces of Caliendo
The Greene Room
Predicting this weekend's Mountain West football slate (2 Comments)
Top Chef: Las Vegas
Top Chef Episode 11: Child's play
Miech Again
UNLV prez Smatresk is ready for some basketball (11 Comments)
Politics: The Early Line
Harry Reid's fourth TV ad begins running today
Calendar »
- 15 Sun
- 16 Mon
- 17 Tue
- 18 Wed
- 19 Thu
-
Actor's Expo at Rave Motion Pictures
Rave Motion Pictures Town Square 18 | 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
-
Lily Tomlin at the Hollywood Theatre
Hollywood Theatre at MGM Grand
-
Neil Sedaka at the Orleans
Orleans Hotel-Casino
-
Supernatural Santana – A Trip Through the Hits at The Joint
The Joint
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati





