Niskayuna teacher Susan Kokernak was awarded National Board Certification in Music – Early and Middle Childhood/Band.
The National Board Certification was designed to develop, retain and recognize accomplished teachers and to advance student learning and achievement. It is the most respected professional certification available in K-12 education.
Kokernak’s certification process focused, in part, on music literacy and developing approaches for teaching students to sight-read music.
“It was an awesome experience. You really evaluate your teaching and analyze how to plan your instruction to meet the needs of every student. It’s a challenging process but extremely rewarding and well worth it,” Kokernak said.
Mrs. Kokernak has been teaching at Niskayuna for 13 years. In addition to teaching music at the elementary and middle school levels, she serves as a mentor to new music teachers and is a member of the Iroquois and Van Antwerp Building Advisory Teams for the district’s capital project. Kokernak is the principal oboist of the Schenectady Symphony Orchestra and a member of the SUNY Schenectady School of Music Advisory Board.
“National Board Certification is an opportunity for teachers to grow their practice, demonstrate professional knowledge, and highlights our teachers’ dedication to their students,” said Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Marie Digirolamo. “Niskayuna is proud to have supported 45 teachers in achieving their certification, and I congratulate Mrs. Kokernak on this tremendous accomplishment.”
National Board Certification requires teachers to maintain their certification every five years by submitting a portfolio documenting their professional accomplishments. Four Niskayuna teachers renewed their certification this year:
- Caroline Gardiner, World Languages/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
- Bryan Mattice, Social Studies – History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
- Sean O’Connell, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
- Christine Spollen, Generalist/Early Childhood
The Niskayuna Central School District has one of the highest percentages of teachers who have achieved this certification in New York State. To learn more about National Board Certification, visit www.nbpts.org.
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