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Ava Welch teaches second grade at Lakeridge Elementary in the Renton School District. We recently had the chance to sit down and talk with her about what becoming Nationally Board Certified has meant for her work as a teacher.
When asked about what was most exciting for Ava about becoming Nationally Board Certified, she responded by describing the confidence she has gained in her teaching. “Passing your National Boards gives you a little bit more confidence that you learned something and you know what you’re talking about,” she noted. “It’s a long process that is a lot of work, but it’s definitely rewarding because I gained so many skills.”
Added skills in small-group instruction was another one of the aspects Eva most valued overall. “I walked away having the strategies and skills to teach in a small group,” Ava commented, “which is a really effective way to fill academic gaps.”
As someone who is still fairly early in her career, Ava also described the financial aspect of National Board Certification as another important factor for her, as “it gives a little more cushion when teachers typically don’t have that.” She added, “It’s nice to know I can support myself, and National Board has been a big help for that.”
She added that, for her, “I think the most valuable part is the differentiation. Learning how to adapt what you know about teaching to the group of students you have right in front of you — and being able to welcome any student into your classroom, no matter their strengths or the areas that they need to grow in.”
Students come from all different backgrounds, Ava continued, “and with all different academic levels and gaps. I’m a lot more confident in knowing that no matter what student comes in, I’m going to be able to figure out how to help them and meet them where they’re at, and prepare them to go off to the third grade.”
Learn more about Ava Welch in her own words at https://youtu.be/eWCkXcyf1C4, and view additional interviews with National Board Certified Teachers in our NBCT Spotlight at https://www.psesd.org/news.
Meanwhile, to learn more about becoming Nationally Board Certified, head to https://www.nbpts.org/.