IMSA Faculty Members Receive National Teaching Certification; Highest Standards for the Teaching Profession
For Immediate Release, December 2002
For comment, contact Brenda Buschbacher at
(630) 907-5033
AURORA – Four faculty members at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) have successfully completed all of the requirements to receive certification with the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). This brings the total number of NBPTS-certified IMSA faculty to 11.
Josie Wallmuth of Somonauk, a science teacher for seven years at IMSA and an educator for 16 years, was certified in Adolescence and Young Adulthood/Science teaching. Diane Hinterlong of Aurora, a science teacher for 12 years at IMSA, formerly worked as an engineer for AT&T. Hinterlong also received NBPTS certification in Adolescence and Young Adulthood/Science.
Willa Shultz of Brookfield, an educator since 1973 who has taught French at IMSA for 14 years, received certification in World Languages/French. John Stark of Aurora, an educator for 33 years (17 of those teaching at IMSA) also was certified in World Languages/German.
The four IMSA faculty members were among 7,886 primary and secondary school teachers nationwide to complete the rigorous and competitive national certification process that credentials successful candidates as Master Teachers. They join a group of only 569 other NBCTs in the state of Illinois.
As part of the National Board Certification process, each teacher compiled
and submitted a teaching portfolio which included videotapes of classroom teaching,
lesson plans, student work samples and reflective written commentaries that
detail what they, as teachers, were doing and why. They also had to complete
an assessment involving a series of written exercises designed around challenging
teacher issues such as curriculum design, student assessment and content knowledge.
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, founded in 1987, is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan and non-governmental organization dedicated to raising the level of teaching excellence in classrooms throughout America.
Located in Aurora, Illinois, the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy is an internationally-recognized pioneering educational institution created by the State to develop talent and stimulate excellence in teaching and learning in mathematics, science and technology. IMSA's advanced residential college preparatory program enrolls 650 academically talented Illinois students in grades 10-12. More than 16,000 teachers and 23,000 students in Illinois and beyond have benefited from IMSA's professional development and enrichment programs. IMSA serves the people of Illinois through innovative instructional programs, public and private partnerships, policy leadership and action research.