By Liz Beavers
lbeavers@newstribune.info
managing editor

KEYSER — Business and computer instructor Sheila Powell received notification Thursday that she has achieved National Board Certification; becoming the first teacher at Keyser Primary-Middle School to reach that level.
Powell, who is presently in her sixth year teaching at KPMS, was certified in the area of career and technical education/early adolescence through young adulthood.
In order to attain that level, she had to complete an extensive performance-based assessment, including
building a portfolio that includes samples of her students’ work, assignments, videotapes of classroom activities, and a thorough analysis of her classroom teaching technique.
Powell, who teaches at the middle school level, said her students who went through the assessment process with her were excited to hear the news.
“You always hope that you’re teaching them the best that you can,” she said Thursday as she watched her eighth graders tackle a new project in the computer lab.
“By going through this process, it helps confirm that the way I worth with my students is based on high standards.”
KPMS principal John Campbell had no doubt about Powell’s level of excellence in the classroom.
“She’s the consummate teacher,” he said. “She does an exceptional job.”
Her dedication to KPMS and to her students is not limited to the classroom, however.
In addition to her duties as teacher, Powell also serves as president of the PTO and, in that capacity, helped raise enough money to purchase new equipment this year for the school’s playground.
“They also raised enough money to send the whole school to see ‘The Wizard of Oz’ in March,” Campbell said.
Powell holds an associate degree from Potomac State College and a bachelor of science degree in business education from Frostburg State University. Her master’s degree in business education is also from FSU.
Both she and Campbell are encouraging other KPMS educators to strive to attain national certification.
Noting that all teachers are required to reach a certain  certification by No Child Left Behind, Campbell said he’d like to see more teachers continue to move “over and above” that level.
“National Board Certification is part of a growing national movement that advances education reform,” said former Georgia Gov. Roy E. Barnes, who chairs the NBPTS Board of Directors.
“It’s a movement that improves teaching, advances student learning, and makes schools better.
“National Board teachers like Sheila Powell are leading the way in preparing America’s diverse student population with the skills it needs to compete in the 21st Century.”
For more information about the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and National Board Certification, visit the website at http://www.nbpts.org.