Central Second Grade Teacher Participates in White House Forum

Washington, DC, is just about 45 minutes away by car. As the crow flies, it is even shorter, maybe 24 miles. But the nation's capital is a world away from the daily routine of Keri Farrish, a second grade teacher at .

And yet she recently visited the White House, one of four nationally board certified teachers from Anne Arundel County talking education policy with decision-makers in the federal government.

Farrish attended the forum along with Michelle Williams of Bates Middle, Elizabeth Davidson of George Fox Middle and John Trumbule, who is now an assistant principal at Odenton Elementary, according to a release from Anne Arundel County Public School (AACPS). The four traveled to the White House for a forum held by the White House Domestic Policy Council, the U.S. Department of Education and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

Two Odenton Elementary students, third-grader Deandre Strokes and fifth-grader Maylia Noda Carter, joined the Anne Arundel group along with AACPS Superintendent Kevin Maxwell and Odenton Elementary Principal Tracey Ahern.

Farrish called the invitation and the event, "amazing." She was called to participate in the forum by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards just before Thanksgiving. That was also when Farrish learned that she was a National Board Certified teacher.

AACPS spokesman Bob Mosier said that about 3 percent of teachers nationwide have received National Board Certification, considered the nation’s highest teaching credential.

Farrish first went to the White House for a morning reception with U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan. Then, the 150 teachers from around the country who were also at the event were bussed to the Department of Education building near the National Mall to break out into smaller working groups to focus on relevant education topics.

Farrish's group worked on the professional aspect of teaching: How to find good teachers, how to ensure they are qualified, how to change the public perception of the teaching profession and compensation.

Overall, Farrish said the forum focused on the major issues in education and all of the smaller working groups looked at high-quality instruction.

The superintendent was also at the event.

“This is a great honor not only for our educational leaders and students who have the chance to attend, but for our entire school system,” said Maxwell, who took part in the Champions of Change round table focusing on arts integration at the White House in July.

Anne Arundel County ranks second in the state with 273 NBC teachers. Farrish was the only teacher from Central Elementary to earn the certification this year.