Bellmore-Merrick Teacher Earns National Board Certification

Jessica Metkiff, an English teacher at John F. Kennedy High School, recently achieved National Board certification.

Metkiff is the second Bellmore-Merrick teacher to earn National Board recognition since 2002.

“During the process of earning National Board certification, Jessica examined both the ways in which she presents information and the ways in which her students illustrate their growth,” explained English chair Adeline Atkins. “Collaboration with other teachers prompted Jessica to support her traditional whole-class novel approach with that of a Book Club.”

This balanced approach to literary instruction challenges students to access their previous learning about detail selection, author’s purpose, and the writing process and to combine them with the expectations from their Socratic Seminars in order to produce both individual and collaborative work.

“The Book Clubs allow for enhanced student interest as well as academically-driven activities that supported the traditional skills of the English classroom while providing students another opportunity to grow their love of reading,” added Atkins.

The National Board was created by teachers and represents a consensus among educators about what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do. The certification process requires that teachers demonstrate standards-based evidence of the positive effect they have on student learning.

Photo courtesy Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District