The National Board for Professional Teacher Standards has announced that 288 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools teachers have earned National Board Certification this year – the largest number of new certifications in the district’s history.

The district ranks third nationally with 1,739 certified teachers.

According to the board, North Carolina has 2,277 newly certified National Board teachers in public school classrooms. They bring the state’s total number of National Board Certified Teachers to 17,957, accounting for almost one-fifth of the nation’s National Board-certified teachers.

Teachers achieve certification through a rigorous performance-based assessment that typically takes from one to three years to complete and measures what teachers and counselors should know and be able to do. Participation is voluntary. Candidates build a portfolio that includes student work samples, assignments, videotapes and a thorough analysis of classroom teaching.

A complete list of all teachers that earned their 2010 National Board Certification can be found on the Herald website, www.huntersvilleherald.com. For more information on National Board Certification, visit www.nbpts.org.

The following teachers at area schools earned their 2010 National Board certification:

• From Bailey Middle: Lysa Craig, Lynn Ralph, Kristin Scheel and Jennifer Selfridge.

• From Cornelius Elementary: Nicolle Fairchild, Trisha Hefner, Martha Pippin, Holly Reader and Kari Thomas.

• From Davidson Elementary: Nicole Fraser, Katherine Radcliff, Jennifer Smith and Anita Walker.

• From Francis Bradley Middle: Cynthia Elder and Richard Owens.

• From Huntersville Elementary: Cynthia Callahan.

• From J.M. Alexander Middle: Amber South.

• From Long Creek Elementary: Jessica Alston, Toni Cipolla and Lisa Pagano.

• From North Mecklenburg High: Deanna Cureton, Allan Duckworth and Kimberly Tuttle.

• From Torrence Creek Elementary: Lindsay Ali, Jennifer Kershaw, Leslie Olmstead and Lorri Whisenant.