For Katie Correll, third grade teacher at Southside Elementary, the most rewarding part of her job is spending the day with children. Mrs. Correll loves how much fun it is to be with her students and to watch them experience learning. She says, “I can plan every detail of a lesson, but you never really know where the kids are going to take it.” Students will have different conversations and takeaways from lessons year to year. Katie would agree that even day to day in the same classroom varies a great deal. She adds, “I love the unpredictability of working with kids!”
The enthusiasm Katie feels as a teacher in her classroom is reminiscent of the excitement she once felt as a student in someone else’s classroom. Katie explains, “I had a phenomenal teacher in third and fourth grade. Her name was Mrs. Clark, and she was just so kind and creative. I couldn’t wait to get to her class every day to see what kind of adventure we were going to have!” With this positive outlook about school and learning ingrained in her as a child, it is no wonder that Mrs. Correll strives to “let students put their stamp on their learning.” Each day she is eager to see what her students will gain from instruction and what they will have to say about the lesson.
It is evident by the way Mrs. Correll talks about the thrill of teaching that she cares deeply about her students and her craft. In fact, it is for these two reasons that she decided to pursue National Board Certification. “Being that it is my 20th year of teaching, I wanted to get back in touch with best practices and ensure that what I do every day is what’s best for my students."
Katie explains that the process of National Board Certification is different from other options teachers have to move through ranks or further their qualifications. She says, “When you certify, you are not learning new content specifically. It’s really more about proving you are an accomplished teacher.”
So how does a teacher go about proving their skills? Reflection and analysis. “The process makes teachers analyze their practice in a very intense way. It forces you to pay attention to each part of every lesson, to analyze every student and their needs, to think about the reason behind everything you do in the classroom.” Although daunting, the design of this program allows teachers to determine why they teach or conduct a lesson in a particular way. It helps educators determine if what they do each day in their classroom could be done in a manner that better serves students.
Since completing the process and obtaining her certification, Mrs. Correll has seen the fruits of her labor. She says, “I find that I am much more intentional with the lessons I plan. I think about my reasoning for everything I do or have my students do. I try to make the most of every minute!” The intentionality behind her lesson planning and instruction became even more critical during the COVID-19 pandemic. Katie elaborates, “The hardest part of teaching is ensuring that I reach every student, especially this year...My National Board experience helps ensure every moment we spend together is purposeful.”
As a district, we are so grateful that Katie decided to pursue her certification. She will continue to benefit from it both professionally and personally, and the experience will have a positive impact on students for years to come. Congratulations, Mrs. Correll, on becoming a National Board Certified Teacher! We are so proud of you!
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