After a three-year process, Upper School science teacher Emily Myhre became a National Board Certified Teacher in science-adolescence and young adulthood-biology, the only teaching certification recognized in all 50 states in the United States. 

National Board certification requires a four-step process and evaluates teachers on things like subject knowledge, professional development, and teaching style. 

“Most teaching certificates and teaching certifications are done by each individual state, but this one has the highest standards, so that’s why every state recognizes it,” Myhre said. 

Myhre credits her mentor teacher for inspiring her to initially wanting to get certified. And now that she has over 20 years of teaching experience, she says this certification is important to her. 

“There are times when I think we just need to refresh ourselves as teachers and as learners, and this process really helped me refocus on what I think is important,” Myhre said. 

Myhre says the moment she realized she got certified was when she was waiting with her daughter, freshman Rachel Myhre, to go to a swim meet. 

“I was super happy for her,” Rachel Myhre said. “This is something she really wanted, and so it was great to hear.” 

Rachel Myhre was not only happy for her mother but also says that her mother’s certification inspired her brother and herself. 

“She puts a lot of effort into this, and it shows me, since she’s a really big figure in my life, that no matter how much work or how long it takes, I can do whatever I want to do in life,” Rachel Myhre said.  

Looking into the future, Emily Myhre carries lessons she has learned about herself as a teacher.  

“For every section [of the certification process], there was always a reflections part to it, and now that you see yourself doing these things, how do you want to change as you move forward?” Emily Myhre said. 

Despite the challenges along the way, Emily Myhre says the effort put into the certification was worth it. 

“The process and what I’ve learned through the process, and what I’ve thought about as I’ve gone through the process, has made me a more effective teacher,” Emily Myhre said.