Eight Daviess County Public Schools teachers have earned the designation of National Board Certified Teacher, while six other educators have renewed their certifications.
The group joins 56 active educators in the DCPS district who have achieved and maintained this exemplary standard of teaching excellence.
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is an organization dedicated to improving schools and student learning by strengthening the quality of those who teach. The board sponsors a national certification process that measures a teacher’s practices against high standards of excellence.
DCPS teachers receiving their first certification are:
Alison Ederle
West Louisville Elementary School, Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early And Middle Childhood.
Ederle is in her sixth year teaching and is currently teaching 4th grade.
Ederle said: “National Board Certification provided a valuable opportunity for me to engage in deep reflection and personal growth. Through this rigorous process, I was able to analyze my teaching practices and refine my understanding of student learning. The process of compiling my portfolio and reflecting on my practice deepened my understanding of student learning and the importance of creating an inclusive and equitable learning environment for all students. I believe this experience will have a lasting positive impact on both my teaching and my students’ learning journeys.”
Kalynne Ferguson
Southern Oaks Elementary School, Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early And Middle Childhood.
Ferguson is in her eighth year of teaching and is currently teaching 4th and 5th grade.
Ferguson said: “I saw National Board certification as an opportunity for growth so that I could provide the best possible literacy instruction for my students. Through this process, I have become more intentional in my planning and more reflective when analyzing student learning. I was able to strengthen my abilities as a literacy instructor and now feel more confident that I can meet the needs of my students. I always encourage my students to set goals for themselves, so I’m proud that they are seeing me achieve this goal of mine! The knowledge I have gained through National Board certification will positively impact every child who enters my classroom for years to come.”
Crystal Hodskins
Country Heights Elementary School, Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early And Middle Childhood.
Hodskins is in her 16th year teaching and is currently teaching 3rd grade.
“Pursuing National Board Certification allowed me to analyze my craft through a highly reflective lens. I was able to refine best practices to develop literacy skills for the whole child. Because this process was happening in real time with real students, it was an empowering experience that highlighted the urgency of teacher efficacy and the importance of understanding the many paths of student learning. I loved having an opportunity to include my students and families on my own learning journey and modeling what commitment to lifelong learning can look like. National Board Certification has broadened my understanding of highly effective teaching, and I am eager to continue growing as an educator for the benefit of my current and future students.”
Wendy Lane
Daviess County Preschool Instructional Coach, Generalist/Early Childhood.
Wendy is in her 20th year of education and currently works as the Early Childhood Instructional Coach for the district.
Lane said: “I pursued National Board Certification to continue my professional growth within teaching young children. This experience pushed me to use my knowledge of students, student assessments/data, and professional learning communities to improve my craft as a teacher. I am elated to use my professional growth gained from this process to better serve young children and families within our community.”
Hadley Loucks
Daviess County High School, Exceptional Needs Specialist – Early Childhood through Young Adulthood/Severe and Multiple Disabilities (SMD).
Loucks is in her ninth year of teaching and is currently teaching high school special education.
Loucks said: “I decided to pursue National Board Certification as a way to challenge myself and better meet the holistic needs of my students. Throughout the certification process, I had the opportunity to reflect deeply on my teaching practices and gain valuable insights into how I can further challenge my students to reach their full potential. Becoming a National Board Certified Teacher is a commitment to excellence in education and a pledge to ensure that my students feel supported in all aspects of their growth.”
Haley Makowski
Country Heights Elementary School, Exceptional Needs Specialist – Early Childhood through Young Adulthood-Mild/Moderate Disabilities (ages 5-21+).
Makowski is in her fifth year of teaching and is currently teaching kindergarten and 1st-grade special education.
Makowski said: “My decision to pursue National Board Certification was driven by my commitment to enhance my learning, which in turn benefits all of my students. The National Board Certification process has allowed me to collaborate with a diverse group of educators, reflect deeply on my teaching practices, and analyze student data more comprehensively. This has provided me with a richer understanding of each student’s growth and needs. This certification is not just a personal achievement; it is an ongoing gift that will continue to enrich my classroom’s environment.”
Katie Jo Reising
Southern Oaks Elementary School, Exceptional Needs Specialist – Early Childhood through Young Adulthood/Mild and Moderate Disabilities.
Reising is currently in her fifth year teaching elementary special education.
Reising said: “I chose the National Board Certification process because I wanted an opportunity to challenge myself. National Board Certification taught me how to be a reflective teacher. I learned how to make effective changes to my instruction based on reflection, assessment, and data in order to provide my students with quality education that meets their individual needs. I have become a more responsive teacher as a result of the NBCT process. ”
Erinn Williams
West Louisville Elementary School, Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early And Middle Childhood.
Williams is in her fifth year of teaching and is currently teaching 5th grade.
Williams said: “I chose National Board Certification because I feel that it is important to remain a lifelong learner. The process enabled me to reflect on my instructional practices, strengthen my skill set as an educator, and deepen my understanding of how my students learn best. It was a fantastic opportunity to use relevant and meaningful data collected from my students to further analyze and drive literacy instruction. Additionally, it helped me network with others within learning communities and grow significantly as an educator. On a personal note, I remain inspired by my family, friends, and students to keep pursuing my goals. I am confident this experience will prove invaluable in years to come. It is truly a blessing to have achieved National Board Certification!”
DCPS educators earning recertification are:
Brittney Brasher
Sorgho Elementary School, Middle Childhood Generalist.
Brasher is in her 20th year of teaching.
Sandra Carrico
Sorgho Elementary School, Middle Childhood Generalist.
Carrico is in her 21st year of teaching.
Kaye Fulkerson
Deer Park Elementary School, Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early And Middle Childhood.
Fulkerson is in her 20th year of teaching and currently has kindergarten students.
Allie Head
Daviess County High School, English Language Arts: Adolescence and Young Adulthood.
Head is in her 12th year teaching.
Stephanie Rhye
Sorgho Elementary School, Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early And Middle Childhood.
Rhye is in her 24th year in education and is currently teaching 2nd grade.
Samantha Rowe
College View Middle School, English Language Arts-Early Adolescence.
Rowe is in her 15th year teaching and is currently teaching 8th grade.
