The Olympia School Board recognized this year’s Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year, the new National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT), as well as those who have renewed their NBCT certification during the March 11 school board meeting.

Teachers of the Year

The board recognized:

Olympia School District Elementary Teacher of the Year: Devin Alexander, reading intervention specialist at LP Brown Elementary School. Alexander has worked at LP Brown Elementary since 2006.

Olympia School District Secondary Teachers of the Year: Lorraine Manning and Marion Sheridan, Special Education Life Skills teachers at Olympia High School. Manning joined the district in 1996 and has worked at both Olympia and Capital high schools. Sheridan started in 1998 and has worked at Olympia High School ever since.

National Board Certified Teachers

The NBCT recognition began with two OSD educators providing an overview of the process to become certified and to renew certification. Erica Kinsel, an Olympia High School teacher, a Regional NBCT facilitator and a facilitator of the Olympia NBCT cohort teamed with Cindy Johnson, a Pioneer Elementary School teacher who is currently going through the NBCT renewal process.

The school board recognized:

• New NBCTs: Emily Hamilton of McLane Elementary School, Amy Hill of Pioneer Elementary School (on leave this year) and Marisa Castello of Olympia High School.
• Renewals: Tania Albert, Kelly Boyer and Kristen Soderberg of Olympia High School; Charleen Hayes and Trisha Douay of LP Brown Elementary School; Melissa Johnston-Cota of Capital High School; and Candyce Burroughs and Jodi Boe of Washington Middle School.

Congratulations to all of this year’s honorees!