Retired Northshore School District staff celebrates legacy of learning

Published 11:39 am Tuesday, September 3, 2013

More than 50 retired Northshore School District (NSD) teachers, staff and faculty will gather at Foundation House of Bothell on Sept. 11, to celebrate their contributions to the community and support the Northshore Schools Foundation’s Teacher Excellence Initiative.

This third annual event will feature guest speakers NSD Superintendent Larry Francois, School Board Director Sandy Hayes and representatives from the district’s student teaching academy and the National Board Teacher Certification program.

This inclusive event allows retired staff members, faculty and administrators who ever were employed by the NSD at any school or facility, to meet and reconnect.

“On the first day of school, it is tradition for retired faculty and staff to gather with their colleagues from the school that they retired from,” said Executive Director of the Northshore Schools Foundation  Carmin Dalziel. “It’s a great way to reconnect, but we were hearing that often people from different schools were having a hard time connecting, so we saw that there was a need. With the retired staff brunch, colleagues from across the district can come together and reconnectit also seemed like a great idea for these educators who have given so much to the students and the district get the opportunity to hear from the current superintendent and see how their contributions in their early careers continue to positively affect teachers and students.“

Proceeds from the event go to support the Northshore Schools Foundation’s Teacher Excellence Initiative that provides funding assistance to teachers who are pursuing their National Board Teacher Certification.

“Education is a noble cause, and these people have given their life to insure that our children grow up to be responsible, educated and contributing members of society,” said Dalziel. “It’s fun to share with them what is happening in the district, and personally I love the chance to reconnect with some of my favorite teachers from when I was a NSD student,” Dalziel said.

National Board Teacher Certification (NBCT) is a voluntary assessment program designed to recognize and reward great teachers–and make them better. While state licensing systems establish a baseline of requirements for teachers, certified teachers have successfully demonstrated advanced teaching knowledge, skills, and practices. NBCT is the only credential process that compares a teacher’s knowledge and skills with a national set of professional standards. The process requires teachers to reflect on how they form and deliver lessons and demonstrate leadership in their schools and communities.

Washington State has the second highest number of new NBCT and the fourth highest total in the nation. The NSD currently has more than 99 NBTC.  Forty-three of those candidates have received financial assistance from the Northshore Schools Foundation.

Since 2009, the Foundation has invested more than $27,000 to support teachers who are pursuing their National Board Certification by providing scholarships to the UW Mentor support group and 8 to 16 hours of Paid time off to offset the more than 400 hours it takes to achieve certification.

The event is underwritten by the Foundation House of Bothell, an extension of the Seattle Education Foundation. Since the 1920’s the Seattle Education Foundation formally known as the Ida Culver Retirement Home has provided gracious retirement living for school employees. Today, the Foundation House proudly carries on this tradition and by supporting causes like the Northshore Schools Foundation, and sponsoring events for like the NSD Retired Staff Brunch.

For more information about the NSD Retired Staff Brunch visit http://www.northshoreschoolsfoundation.org/events/retired-staff-brunch/

Tickets are available for a donation of $25 and all proceeds go to benefit teachers in the NSD.