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Federal Way High School Principal Dr. Matt Oberst Talks About the Importance of National Board Certified Teachers
Matt Oberst

Dr. Matt Oberst is the Principal with Federal Way High School, and we recently sat down to speak with him about the benefits of having Nationally Board Certified teachers in the classroom.

"We strongly believe in high expectations and high support," Dr. Oberst commented, "and this is also strongly aligned with our Nationally Board Certified teachers." He went on to describe many definite benefits for students to have a National Board Certified teacher in the classroom.

"A strong teacher is the number one support we can provide for our students to help our students with their learning," he explained. "National Board certification helps our teachers to be more effective, stronger instructional leaders, using high-effect instructional strategies, different formative assessment, as well as positive relationships."

Dr. Oberst concluded by noting that "Success brings success. And we all have the same goal -- we want our students to be successful."

Learn more about Dr. Matt Oberst in his own words at https://youtu.be/-11I2s5m8lw, 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/.

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Laura Eidson Talks About the Importance of National Board Certified Teachers and Improving Student Discourse

Laura Eidson is a teacher in the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District, where she currently teaches first grade, and she just went through the National Board Certification process and received her certification. The process had a positive and powerful effect on her approaches as a teacher.
 

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Bridging the Gap

Here's some news to spotlight from Federal Way Public Schools! Transitioning to a new grade level can be a big deal for students and families alike. Sometimes, transitions can bring about mixed feelings of both excitement and anxiousness around what comes next. At Family Academy’s Bridging the Gap: Supporting Students Through Change, students and families can learn more about how to confidently support smooth school year transitions.

Read More about Bridging the Gap: Supporting Students Through Change
Lucyka Clark

Lucyka Clark is a Resource Room Teacher at James Sales Elementary School, in the Franklin Pierce School District. As the proud home of the Jaguars, James Sales is located in Tacoma, Washington, and we recently had the chance to talk with Lucyka about how becoming Nationally Board Certified enriched her teaching.

Read More about Lucyka Clark on the Importance of National Board Certification (and Collaboration)
Come support PSESD's Latinx Family Advocacy Program at a Tacoma Rainiers Baseball Game!

We’re excited to announce a new three-year partnership between PSESD's Latinx Family Advocacy Program, BECU and the Tacoma Rainiers Baseball team! As part of this partnership, BECU has chosen to honor and support our Latinx Family Advocacy Program at five games each baseball season. Proceeds from these Copa Games will go directly toward supporting us.

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Celebrating our Education Support Professionals at PSESD

In education, the thousands who serve among the support professionals are an integral part of the industry and its importance.

That’s why it’s so important to celebrate their contributions each year for Education Support Professionals week, which takes place this year from March 10–14, 2025. The week was first noted for celebration in 1975 by PSE in order to salute the irreplaceable contributions of Education Support Professionals (or ESPs, for short) in the public school system.
 

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Teacher Rachel Wegener

Rachel Wegener is a high school English teacher in the Federal Way Public Schools who teaches 10th and 12th grade English. She's been with Federal Way for seven years, and we recently sat down to talk with her about what she's gained by becoming Nationally Board Certified.

Read More about National Board Certified Teacher Rachel Wegener Talks About the Importance of Family and Parental Support