Queen Creek Unified teacher receives national certification

A sixth-grade teacher at Faith Mather Sossaman Elementary has earned her National Board Certification.

Meeghan Leyva’s journey to certification was challenging but rewarding, made possible with the support of Queen Creek Unified School District and her colleagues, a district press release stated.

Leyva’s inspiration to pursue National Board Certification came from a fellow FMSE teacher who encouraged her to consider the process.

 "Once I got going, I realized it was going to be interesting," Layva stated in the release. "The coaches from the district level and the Arizona K–12 Association kept me going. I even had teacher friends in other states on the journey with me.

“I am proud of myself for sticking it out. It’s a long process, and you ask yourself if it is really worth it. But it means that I take pride in my profession and that others can see the hard work we as educators put into our students and our jobs."

The National Board Certification process consists of a content knowledge test, an analysis of student work, video submissions demonstrating classroom engagement, and an extensive reflection on teaching practices.

"Each component is a challenge in itself," Leyva stated. "The data collection, reflection writing and waiting for results all come with their own challenges. You submit your work in May and then wait until December to see if you passed."

Leyva stated that the district provided a safe place and a mentor to guide her through the process.

"The certification itself is just a piece of paper, but what I learned about myself and my practice along the way is the real reward," she stated. "I have completely changed the way my classroom runs and what I expect from my students. We are a much more cohesive and collaborative group now. My students love knowing they were part of this journey with me, and I think it boosts their confidence as well."

Leyva encouraged other educators to take on the challenge of certification, despite its demands.

"Do not get discouraged. It is a long process, but take as much time as you need,” she stated. “The reflective nature of the process is extremely eye-opening. You may find that you do so many incredible things that have become second nature — you just don’t notice them until you sit down and reflect."