Kennedy Teacher Is First To Get National Certification In Years

From The Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District: John F. Kennedy High School English teacher, Christy Rochford has achieved National Board certification.

Rochford is the first teacher in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District to earn National Board recognition since 2002 and the only teacher presently on staff to have the certification.

Department Chair Adeline Atkins said that Rochford continually seeks ways to improve instruction.

“She proposed Kennedy’s first schoolwide common summer reading initiative and she regularly participates in collegiate circles focused on the sharing of best pedagogical practices, utilizes IRIS technology to reflect on her own teaching and her students’ learning,” Atkins continued.

The certification process requires that teachers demonstrate standards-based evidence of the positive effect they have on student learning. Teachers must have a deep understanding of their students, content knowledge, use of data and assessments and teaching practice. They must also show that they participate in
learning communities and provide evidence of ongoing reflection and continuous learning.

Photo courtesy of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District