Two Westside Elementary School teachers have recently earned their National Board Teacher Certifications.
Tracy Stewart, a second grade teacher, and Gabrielle McVay, a kindergarten teacher, have completed the three-year certification process that they feel will make them better teachers. According to Stewart, only 37 percent of the nation’s teachers have acquired the national certification. Stewart and McVay join Jennifer Pruitt as the only teachers at Westside to hold the distinction. Pruitt completed her certification last year.
“I’m a lifelong learner and I want to be the best teacher I can be,” Stewart said. “We learned a lot of things and we look forward to sharing those things with other teachers.”
McVay said the process will allow her to be more effective in the classroom.
“You can see the things you are doing well, but also points out some of the things you may want to change,” McVay said.
WES Principal Tony Pittman said having two more nationally certified teachers would benefit the students at the school.
“I’m very proud of both of them. Our students will benefit from their experience. They are two great teachers who are willing to share what they learned, so it will also benefit their colleagues. I’m very proud to be their administrator.”
Stewart has been a teacher for 25 years, having spent 21 of those years at WES. McVay has been at WES for all of her 10 years of teaching.