By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Three Hays USD 489 teachers were honored at the school board meeting Monday night for achieving national board certification.
Those recognized included Jessie Groff, who has been with the district for 12 years; Laurenda Jacobs, who has been with the district for 18 years, and Tracy Archer, who has been with the district for 10 years.
National Board Certification is a voluntary, advanced teaching credential that goes beyond state licensure.
With these three completing the certification, the district has 15 National Board Certified teachers.
USD 489 has had 20 Nationally Board Certified teachers since the certification became an option for teachers, with one of those five former teachers serving as a BOE member, Curt Vajnar.
Out of the 3 million teachers in the United States, only about 125,000 teachers are Nationally Board Certified.
"The fact that USD 489 has 15 speaks highly of the dedication our teachers have to serving our students at the highest level, as well as the desire to improve themselves," Superintendent Ron Wilson said.
"We are proud of the time and effort you three have put into passing the National Board Certification and truly grateful you have chosen to teach the students of USD 489. We are better because of you."
Board members honored
Outgoing board members Lance Bickle and Mike Walker were also honored at the board meeting. Bickle has served on the board since 2013. Walker served one four-year term. Both men served as both president and vice president of the board during their tenures.
"I think the quality of a good school board member is always reflected in the standards they set for themselves and they eventually set for new board members coming in," Wilson said.
"I think where Mike and Lance have been exceptional is that they have set a standard for their time on the school board with their integrity and just their teamwork approach, which has been a blessing to work with. ...
"You have definitely made a difference, and it has been an honor to work with you."
Bickle thanked the staff, students, board members, administration and voters
"As Ron said, it is a team approach to go through all of this," he said. "One single board member can't do anything, but working as a team is where we actually get something done.
"Things haven't always been rosy. When I started eight years ago, it was a very different district from where it is now. We've made tons of progress on getting things back on track from financial wise to procedures and policies."
Walker said "I do want to tell the public you do have some fantastic people working from the top all the way to the bottom. ... I appreciate everyone I've had a chance to work with. It's been an honor to work on the board."
Monday night was the last school board meeting for both men. New school board members Ken Brooks and Meagan Zampieri-Lillpopp will take their seats in January.