Teachers in Gaston County Schools earn national certification
Twelve teachers in Gaston
County Schools have joined
an elite group of educators
by earning National Board
Certification, the highest
standard for the teaching
profession. The newly-certified
teachers were recognized during
a reception on February 6 at the
Gaston County Schools Central
Office in Gastonia. Truliant
Federal Credit Union sponsored
the reception.
The 12 teachers in Gaston
County are among 118,000
educators from across the
United States who have earned
certification from the National
Board for Professional Teaching
Standards (NBPTS).
Superintendent of Schools W. Jeffrey Booker stated, “Achieving National
Board Certification is a very difficult assessment process in which teachers
examine and reflect on every aspect of their teaching methods and classroom
management. National Board Certified Teachers not only strengthen the
teaching profession, but they also help students to be successful and achieve
at higher academic levels.”
Teachers earning National Board Certification must demonstrate their
knowledge and skills through an extensive, year-long series of performance-
based assessments. In Gaston County, more than 370 teachers have met
the rigorous standards and achieved National Board Certification since the
program began in 1996.
The following is a list of the 2018-2019 National Board Certified Teachers
in Gaston County Schools:
n Megan Christenbury, Lowell Elementary School
Christenbury is a first grade teacher, and she has been in education
for 13 years. She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a
master’s degree in reading education from Appalachian State University. Her
National Board Certification is for Generalist/Early Childhood.
n Karen Coffey, McAdenville Elementary School
Coffey is a second grade teacher, and she has been in education for 25
years. She has a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in education from
East Carolina University. Her National Board Certification is for Generalist/
Early Childhood.
n Alexandra Fitschen, Lowell Elementary School
Fitschen is a fourth grade teacher, and she has been in education
for seven years. She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education
from Appalachian State University. Her National Board Certification is for
Generalist/Middle Childhood.
n Carla Fletcher, Page Primary School
Fletcher is a first grade teacher, and she has been in education for
17 years. She has a master’s degree in the art of teaching. Her National
Board Certification is for Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle
Childhood.
n Jaime Keller, North Belmont Elementary School
Keller is a second grade teacher, and she has been in education for six
years. She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Belmont
Abbey College. Her National Board Certification is for Literacy: Reading-
8 • March/April 2019 • Parent Teacher Magazine
Language Arts/Early and Middle
Childhood.
n Victoria Kiser, Stuart
W. Cramer High School
Kiser is a high school math
teacher, and she has been in
education for 12 years. She
has a bachelor’s degree and
master’s degree in math from
UNC-Charlotte and a degree in
secondary school administration
from Gardner-Webb University.
Her National Board Certification
is for Mathematics/Adolescence
and Young Adulthood.
n Jennifer MacDonald,
Stuart W. Cramer High
School
MacDonald is a high school counselor, and she has been in education for
11 years. She has a bachelor’s degree in sociology and Spanish from Ohio
University, and her master’s degree is in school counseling from Kent State
University. Her National Board Certification is for School Counseling/Early
Childhood through Young Adulthood.
n Jennifer Melton, Brookside Elementary School
Melton is a literacy teacher serving first, second, and third grade
students. She has been in education for 11 years. She has an associate
degree from Gaston College, a bachelor’s degree in elementary education
from Belmont Abbey College, and a master’s degree in reading education
from UNC-Charlotte. Her National Board Certification is for Literacy: Reading-
Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood.
n Erin Morehead, Bessemer City Primary School
Morehead is a school counselor, and she has been in education for 13
years. She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Appalachian
State University, and her master’s degree is in school counseling from
Gardner-Webb University. Her National Board Certification is for School
Counseling/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood.
n Ashley Rimmer, Ashbrook High School
Rimmer is a tenth grade English teacher, and she has been in education
for six years. She has a bachelor’s degree in sociology, a graduate certificate
in teaching, and a master’s degree in secondary education, all from UNC-
Charlotte. Her National Board Certification is for English Language Arts/
Adolescence and Young Adulthood.
n Justin Willyoung, Cherryville High School
Willyoung is a high school counselor, and he has been in education for 10
years. He has a bachelor’s degree in sport psychology and physical education
from West Virginia University, and his master’s degree is in school counseling
from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. His National Board Certification is
for School Counseling/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood.
n Samantha Wong, Carr Elementary School
Wong is a second grade teacher, and she has been in education for seven
years. She has a bachelor’s degree in art history from Brevard College and a
master’s degree in teaching from West Virginia University. Her National Board
Certification is for Generalist/Early Childhood.
Congratulations to our
National Board Certified Teachers!