Park City teachers honored for National Board Certification at Utah Legislature

Utah teachers honored for National Board Certification milestones. Photo: Heidi Matthews

Park City School District has 24 National Board Certified teachers

PARK CITY, Utah — On Monday, Feb. 26, the Utah State Legislature honored seven educators from Park City School District (PCSD) for achieving and recertifying their National Board Certification (NBCT).

The educators, Kara Cook, Kit Howard, Amy Fielder, Liz Moskal, Melissa Nikolai, Andrea Solum and Liz Thompson, were celebrated for their dedication and commitment to educational excellence.

Achieving National Board Certification is recognized as the highest and most respected certification available to teachers. The process is intensive, requiring candidates to demonstrate their impactful contributions to student learning through a comprehensive portfolio, including student work samples, videos and an in-depth analysis of their teaching practices. This rigorous process can take anywhere from 200 to 400 hours to complete, with certification lasting for five years before renewal is necessary.

Of the educators honored, Liz Thompson, an English teacher at Ecker Hill Middle School who initially earned her NBCT in 2019, shared her motivation for pursuing this certification with PCSD, “I really value being a teacher—and I believe there is an art to teaching. Seeing my colleagues achieve National Boards inspired me. It was like a bucket list item for me. I knew it would foster growth for both me and my students.”

The Capitol Recognition Ceremony featured special decrees and proclamations led by Sen. Ann Milner and Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, celebrating the teachers’ significant achievements. Thompson said, “The focus on the students, and knowing that we are in this journey together, is what I love about this process.” She expressed gratitude to the State and PCSD for their support and recognition of the NBCT process.

After the ceremony, Charlie Lowsma, a former PCSD student and current intern for Senate President Stuart Adams, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to his former middle school English teacher, ‘Mrs. T.’ “If I didn’t have you setting me up for success in the beginning, I would just not be here,” Lowsma said.

With this latest cohort of recertifications, PCSD boasts 24 National Board Certified teachers.

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