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As Teacher Terrific Tuesday approaches next week, make sure to thank a teacher for the difference they make!
Poet, playwright and Kennedy Center Award recipient
Mechanical engineer, patent holder, 40 Under 40 Honoree
Dermatology/pharmacology researcher, Parent Guild volunteer
NFL Team Captain of the Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl XL team
These are just a few examples of the highly-qualified teaching professionals at Episcopal. Episcopal teachers are parents, alumni and volunteers. They hold advanced degrees and certifications. They have traveled the world and published works for the world to see. They are experts and they care about their students.
As a community dedicated to educating tomorrow's leaders, Episcopal recognizes the critical role teachers play in the lives of students and seeks ways to help teachers continue to grow, explore and develop their own skills. There are numerous professional development opportunities available for Episcopal educators.
​Since 1998, The Penniman Family Fund Endowment has awarded funds to eligible teachers for completion and renewal of their National Teacher Certification. The Penniman family recognizes the importance of continued education and supports Episcopal faculty professional development. Lower School teacher Amy Arceneaux, who recently renewed her board certification, says having such a fund truly made her feel supported by her school and she is grateful for the opportunity.
Across the country, 118,000 teachers have earned National Board Certification. The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards says that "through National Board Certification, teachers demonstrate that their teaching meets the profession's standards for accomplished practice through a rigorous, peer-reviewed and performance-based process, similar to professional certification in fields such as medicine." Arceneaux says certification is important to her because it reflects her commitment to being the best teacher she can be. "I care about what I do. I work hard to be a better teacher so my students can benefit," she says.
​Becoming board certified or even renewing certification is an impressive feat. Arceneaux says teachers must submit written information about their classroom experiences and videotaped samples of their classroom sessions. For her recent renewal, Arceneaux had to reflect upon her last ten years of teaching and what has changed during that time. "It was a very rewarding experience," she says. "It gave me the opportunity to look at how I've changed as an educator."
Martha Guarisco, Renee Crousillac and Nancy Callaway
Fellow National Board Certified teachers Renee Crousillac, Nancy Callaway and Martha Guarisco agree. Crousillac says going through the certification process allowed her to reflect on her own practices as a teacher and evaluate whether or not she was employing the best practices possible. "The reason I chose to pursue National Board Certification was because I wanted to challenge myself to stay current with educational shifts," says Crousillac. "Parents entrust their children to me and I feel a personal responsibility to strive for excellence every day."
Callaway also appreciated the opportunity to reflect on her work. "By nature, teachers are lifelong learners. I am always seeking ways to fulfill this need," she says. "Ten years later, working toward my renewal of my certification provided a chance for reflection on my growth as a teacher as well as an opportunity to plan for the future." For Guarisco, National Board Certification was a valuable opportunity to not only reflect on her craft, but also to connect with others in the teaching profession. "I was among the first few nationally certified teachers in Louisiana years ago, the closest I've ever felt to being a pioneer. At that time, teaching could be a lonely profession. There just weren't the vehicles – Twitter and EdCamp come to mind – to connect with teachers outside your own building," she says.
Patty and Carl Newton established the Newton Distinguished Faculty Award because of their belief in the difference Episcopal faculty make in the lives of students. Each year the Newton Distinguished Faculty Scholarships are awarded to three outstanding educators to support the professional development opportunity of their choice. In addition, The eFund also supports professional development for teachers. Over the years, teachers have been able to participate in everything from The Teacher's College of Columbia University Writing Workshop to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Teacher Institute. Read more about available professional development opportunities in Head of School Hugh McIntosh's Academic Point here.
​Episcopal's teachers are highly-qualified, skilled professionals with approximately 65% of them holding an advanced degree. In addition, many of them have spent time working as a professional in their field of expertise, while others have taught in higher education. While their credentials are certainly impressive, it is what these individuals do every day that sets them apart. "The teachers in this community deserve the world, for they are not only instructors but also mentors and even friends. There is no other administration in the state that I trust would invest as much time into my journey as the administration at Episcopal." Shannon Ahmad '18
According to the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), one of the benefits of an independent school education is the small classes that allow for individual attention. At Episcopal, small class sizes led by highly-qualified teachers afford students a more personalized educational experience because of the relationships that are forged between students and teachers. These relationships are likely what students will remember long after their time on Woodland Ridge is over.
Thanks to the support of the Episcopal community, Episcopal's first Give Day last year was a success, raising more than $37,000 in 24 hours for the 2017-2018 eFund. This year, instead of Give Day, we are trying something new - the 1965 Minute Challenge - in honor of the year the school began. The challenge, which lasts 1,965 minutes starts at 7:00 am on November 13th and runs through 4:00 pm on November 14th. This year's eFund is dedicated to Episcopal faculty
​and staff. The Episcopal community is being asked to think back and give back on behalf of all the faculty members who work tirelessly to make a difference in students' lives. Look for more on the 1965 Minute Challenge next week and don't miss your opportunity to support your Episcopal educators.
​Do you have a favorite Episcopal teacher? Leave us a note about how that special faculty member positively impacted you.
​The Episcopal 2019-2020 application is now available! ​For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the school, contact us at enrollment@ehsbr.org or 755-2684.
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