Tribune editorial staff

As proficiency testing becomes more and more prominent in our public schools, achievement is a word we often associate with students.

This week, though, two Lawrence County educators were recognized for their own achievements. Chesapeake Elementary kindergarten teacher Amy McCallister and South Point Middle School Assistant Principal Sandy Mers became the first county educators to obtain the prestigious National Board Certification.

The certification, which comes through the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards, is a very rigorous process. More impressive, it is an assessment process educators do on their own - and it takes almost a year to complete.

McCallister and Mers are among only 8,195 elementary and secondary school teachers nationwide and only 2,172 in Ohio to have reached this plateau.

According to the NBPTS, this is a process that requires teachers to demonstrate how their activities - both inside and outside of the classroom - improve student achievement. During the process, teachers must document their knowledge of subject matter, provide evidence that they know how to teach their subjects and demonstrate an ability to manage and measure student learning.

This achievement is widely recognized at the national, state and local levels as a benchmark for teacher quality. As the No Child Left Behind Act has changed the way we look at education, educators are constantly looking to advance their status. This is an indication that not only parents, but also state and federal school officials can look at to assure them our students are getting a good, quality education.

We congratulate these

educators in reaching this honor and encourage all Lawrence County teachers to attempt to match their achievements. Though it may be a long and grueling process, it will be well worth it in the end - both for our teachers and our students.