[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 192 (Thursday, December 17, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S13381]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          2009 NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED RHODE ISLAND TEACHERS

 Mr. REED. Mr. President, I commend the announcement yesterday 
that 44 Rhode Island teachers and nearly 9,000 teachers nationwide 
achieved National Board for Professional Teaching Standards 
certification this year.
  The single most effective step we can take to raise student 
achievement and turn around struggling schools is to ensure that we 
improve the quality of our teachers. For years I have worked to improve 
what the Federal Government does to help train and develop teachers. 
Indeed, I have worked with National Board on nearly every piece of 
teacher quality legislation I have introduced in the Senate. The 
National Board has been instrumental in identifying effective teaching 
practices and infusing those practices throughout our Nations schools. 
Their certification process is rigorous and includes multiple 
components that regularly assess and improve a teacher's ability to 
improve student learning. Since 1994, 82,000 teachers have been 
National Board certified, including 383 Rhode Island teachers.
  Last week, the National Board announced an expansion of their 
certification process to include principals and other school leaders, 
recognizing the research that effective leadership is second only to 
classroom instruction among factors that influence student outcomes. I 
was pleased that this important expansion was made possible through 
Federal funding provided through the fiscal year 2009 Labor, Health, 
and Education appropriations bill.
  I congratulate the Rhode Island teachers and teachers nationwide on 
their significant accomplishment and dedication to their professional 
development, and I look forward to continuing to work with the National 
Board to ensure that our children have the most effective teachers, 
principals, and school leaders.
  I ask that the names of the Rhode Island teachers who achieved 
National Board certification this year be included in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

          2009 Rhode Island National Board Certified Teachers

       Rhonda Asprinio, Michelle Beaulieu, Karen Bessette, 
     Catherine Boutin, Dawn Brooder, Alison Burke, Jaclyn Cambio, 
     David Clegg, Leila Connolly, Suzanne Costa, Lilly Coustan, 
     Cheryl Degnan, Stephanie Desmarais, Amy Devault, Jonathan 
     Dune, Kerri Gendice, Michael Gendice, Andrea Hainey-Turcotte, 
     Carolyn Higgins, Michaela Holmes, James Hovey, and David 
     Kearsley.
       Denise Ledoux, Jeanne Maggiacomo, Treva Mcelroy, Karen 
     Mchenry, Maryelizabeth Melillo, Bonnie Morency-Lima, Lisa 
     Narcisi, Kerry Perschau, Margaret Pouliot, Mary Roberts, 
     Elizabeth Ruest, Lynn Rzemien-Plotkin, Marilyn Salisbury, 
     Elyse Scherza, Denise Sherman, Nicole Tetreault, Jennifer 
     Theroux, Julee Thomas, Christa Thompson, Jennifer Walker, 
     Lynn Warila, and Amy Weigand.

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