The Dexter Leader
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'I change lives everyday'
Webster teacher receives National Board Certification
By Terry Jacoby, Heritage Newspapers
PUBLISHED: February 21, 2008
Kris DeAngelo has a lot to be proud of, including her family, her educational background and her job as a school teacher at Novi High School. But the Webster resident recently achieved another milestone that she can put right at the top of her already impressive resume.
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DeAngelo recently achieved National Board Certification set by the board of directors of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. She is one of only 14 high school science teachers in Michigan and only 1,928 in the country.
Less than one half of one percent of Michigan teachers have earned this distinction.
"National Board certification was an invigorating and intellectually challenging assessment," DeAngelo said. "I believe that by going through the process, I started looking at my students' learning in a new light. Although I always strive to make science exciting and applicable to my students' lives, the National Board certification process prompted me to analyze my teaching in terms of how I could tell I was really reaching my students. It was a great way to revitalize my teaching."
DeAngelo said she would encourage all teachers to go through the process.
"National Board Certification not only recognizes those teachers who are already doing great work, but also pushes all candidates to think outside the box in terms of student achievement," she said.
DeAngelo has taught numerous courses including biology, chemistry, chemistry in the community, anatomy and physiology, forensic science and bioethics. She is currently teaching anatomy and physiology and forensic science and bioethics at Novi High School, where she has been for 17 years.
Her "part-time job" is as an attorney. She graduated from Michigan State University College of Law, Magna Cum Laude in 2002 and currently practices law primarily in the areas of estate planning, probate and real estate.
But her full-time job and full-time love is teaching. And she does whatever she can to improve her teaching skills because the kids of tomorrow deserve her very best.
"It's not enough to be an expert in your content area," said DeAngelo, who is one of only 241 teachers (one half of one percent) in Michigan to hold National Board Certification and only one of 13 teachers in the state to hold Adolescent and Young Adult Science Certification. "A good teacher must be able to make the material relevant and meaningful to students and to determine if students truly learn and remember the material.
"I want my students to be scientifically literate, which means I want them to be able to leave my class and explain science in the world around them."
DeAngelo said National Board Certification forced her to take the time to be reflective about her teaching and her student's learning.
"There's not enough time in a teacher's day to prep, make copies, plan new activities, grade papers, write exam questions, contact parents, meet with counselors and administrators, write reports for special education students and write college recommendations to reflect on 'how did that lesson go' or 'What could I have done better?'
"Most of the time, teachers are just trying to cover all the material mandated by the state to truly think about how effective their teaching is. It's really quite sad."
The National Board Certification is a rigorous voluntary process of national certification similar to a national bar exam for attorneys or medical boards for physicians. It is offered by the NBPTS, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, which instituted the certification process to identify "accomplished" teachers.
It is a knowledge and performance based assessment that focuses on student learning and a teacher's ability to analyze the classroom work and participate in exercises designed to "tap the knowledge, skills, disposition and professional judgment that distinguish their practice to impact student achievement."
To be named a National Board Certified Science Teacher, DeAngelo had to complete four portfolio entries and take a timed six-part essay exam. In the portfolio, she had to demonstrate a strong command of science content linked with appropriate science pedagogy, engage students with the material, set appropriate and worthwhile goals for student learning, establish and manage a productive learning environment, analyze student work showing knowledge and insight into their learning, contribute to the larger learning community by sharing with peers and colleagues and more.
The four portfolio entries were approximately 15 pages each- similar to a Master's thesis.
"Preparing for National Board Certification was similar to studying for the Bar Exam in terms of time," she said. "However, the process was much more individualistic and performance based, whereas the Bar exam is an exam that tests subject matter that is taught in law school. The National Board Certification assesses both content knowledge and actual performance in the classroom."
Like many teachers, DeAngelo said she went into the profession idealistic.
"I wanted to make science come alive for my students," she said. "Unfortunately, teaching is full of lots of other responsibilities that take away from the real purpose. People say that I was crazy to go through law school and only practice part-time, but I love teaching.
"When I went to law school, I thought that when I graduated I would just start my own practice and quit teaching. When I got done, I realized that I really love my job and I make a difference in so many of my kids lives. While practicing law benefits individual clients, it's not the same as seeing the amazed, excited, revolted faces of students when they learn about diseases, the human body and forensic science. I know that when my students walk out of my class, they talk about what they've learned with their friends and families. I changed their lives everyday."
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