Several educators in the Moses Lake School District are being recognized for earning or maintaining National Board Certification, one of the highest professional distinctions in the teaching profession.

National Board Certification is awarded by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and recognizes teachers who demonstrate advanced knowledge, instructional expertise and a deep commitment to student learning. The certification process is voluntary and widely regarded as one of the most rigorous forms of professional certification in education.

Teachers pursuing National Board Certification complete a comprehensive, performance-based assessment evaluating their teaching practices, subject knowledge and ability to analyze and improve student learning. The process typically takes one to three years and requires educators to submit detailed portfolios, classroom video recordings and reflective analyses of their teaching.

According to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, more than 146,000 teachers nationwide have achieved National Board Certification since the program began in 1987. Washington is a national leader in the program, with more than 12,000 National Board Certified Teachers working in schools across the state.

Research in several states has found that students taught by National Board Certified Teachers often demonstrate stronger academic growth compared with peers taught by non-certified teachers. The certification process requires teachers to analyze their teaching practices, collaborate with colleagues and demonstrate how their instruction improves student learning.

“National Board Certification represents a tremendous level of dedication to the profession,” said Voni Walker, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning. “We’re proud of the educators who have taken on this challenge and grateful for the expertise they bring to our students every day.”

National Board Certification must be renewed every five years, ensuring that certified teachers continue to demonstrate the high standards of accomplished teaching required by the program.

The district will recognize educators who have earned or maintained their certification during the April 2, 2026, meeting of the Moses Lake School District Board of Directors. The meeting begins at 6pm and will be held at the District’s Board Room, located at 940 E. Yonezawa Blvd.

District leaders say recognizing National Board Certified Teachers highlights the importance of professional growth and the vital role highly skilled educators play in preparing students for success in school and beyond.

MLSD’s National Board Certified Teachers

CBTECH
Aaron Hopkins

Columbia Middle School
Philip Arnold
Jodie Carlile
Shairlyn Fish
Sharon Freel
Rita Fryberger
Alicia Garza
Sharlene Hopkins
Sharee Mullin
Michelle Stickel
Nicole Wallace
Amy Walls

Digital Learning Center
Tonia Doyer
Jason Giuntoli
Jennifer Hammer
Stephanie Semenko

Endeavor Middle School
Joseph Johnson

Frontier Middle School
Laurie Vaillancourt

Garden Heights Elementary School
Ann Ford
Monica McAtee
Shelly Warkentin
Tiffany Woodard
Lynette Zimmer

Groff Elementary School
Megan Cox

Knolls Vista Elementary School
William Bertram
April Betts
Cheryl Dorsing
Cathy Lane
Joelle Malone

Lakeview Elementary School
Beverly Dyk

Larson Heights Elementary School
Shelby Erickson
Ryan Hopperstad

Longview Elementary School
Cara Johnson
Kandace Klenz
Jocelyn Lacelle
Theodore Mack
Mariel Weed

Midway Elementary School
Anna Griffith
Kevin Spees

Moses Lake High School
Jennifer Carpenter
Baudilio Dominguez Orduno
Shane Kincaid
Amanda Kirkham
Natasha Mathis
Sean Parkin
Megan Randall
Sharon Winningham

North Elementary School
Lisa Hart
Stevi Kast

Park Orchard Elementary School
Cindy Hammond
Nicole Moore

Peninsula Elementary School
Karin Bryan
Kathleen Butler
Karina Cook
Cassandra Guenther
Heidi Ragan
Laura Taylor

Sage Point Elementary School
Anna Davis
Cheri Kinder
Josephine Kinney

Special Services
Raeann Fleming
Llindsey White

Vanguard Academy
Kimber Lybbert
Jessica Merritt