Published: December 12, 2008 11:07 pm      

Newton’s teachers achieve National Board Certification

special to The Star



NEWTON – Three Newton Municipal School District teachers meet the nation’s highest teaching standards. Carin Fondren, April Edwards and Cassandra Arrington-Hardaway, all teachers at Newton Elementary School, received National Board Certification in November.

National Board Certification is a voluntary assessment program designed to recognize and reward accomplished teachers. While state-licensing systems set basic requirements to teach in each state, National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT’s) have successfully demonstrated advanced teaching knowledge, skills and practices.

Certification is achieved through a rigorous performance-based assessment in which teachers build a portfolio that includes student work samples, assignments, video recordings and thorough analysis of their classroom teaching. Additionally, teachers are assessed on their knowledge of the subjects they teach. Research consistently shows that NBCT’s provide their students with quality learning. Like board certification in medicine or accounting, National Board Certification is teaching’s highest professional credential. Fondren, Edwards and Hardaway all received certification in Early Childhood Generalist.

Fondren, a third-grade teacher at NES, is the daughter of Karin and the late Bo Freeman of Columbus and Raeanne and the late Michael Collins of Arkansas. She is the granddaughter of Edie and the late Robert Dingeldein of New Hope and the late Mr. and Mrs. James Collins.

A 1996 graduate of Caledonia High School, Fondren received an associate of arts degree from East Mississippi Community College and a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Mississippi University for Women. She serves on the Reading/Language Committee at NES and has served as a member of the Teacher Support Team for the past five years. She resides in Union with her husband, Eddie, and daughter, Madison.

Edwards, a first-grade teacher at NES, is the daughter of Jerry and Tami Burke of Little Rock and granddaughter of Carol and the late James Embrey Sr. of Chunky and the late Luna and Otis Burke of Little Rock.

A 1999 graduate of Newton County High School, Edwards received an associate of arts degree from East Central Community College and a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from MSU-Meridian. She serves on the Reading/Language Committee at NES and has served as a member of the Teacher Support Team for the past five years. She resides in Little Rock with her husband, James, and son, Jaxon.

Hardaway, a fourth grade teacher at NES, is the daughter of Robert and Shirley Love and the great-granddaughter of Waymond Drummond of Newton.

A 1988 graduate of Newton High School and 2003 graduate of MSU-Meridian, Hardaway serves on the Reading/Language Committee and the Teacher Support Team at NES and is currently a mentor teacher. She resides in Newton with her husband, Tristan, and three daughters: Kiana, Faith and Hannah.