Andrea Schueler has been a Spanish Teacher in our district for 16 years. Recently, she became the district’s second teacher to earn National Board Certification, an elite teaching credential held by only three percent of the nation’s teachers.   Schueler became Stillwater School District’s second Board Certified teacher, joining Kris McCarthy, who teaches Social Studies at the ALC this year.

Explaining her certification, Schueler said, “National Board Certification is available in 25 different areas. At a minimum, teachers must have a bachelor’s degree, hold a valid state teaching license and have taught at least three years in order to apply. Some states strongly encourage it, others not so much. Minnesota falls into the not so much camp. MN has 418 certified teachers, 24 of whom were certified in 2014, including Ms. Schueler.”

She had to complete an extensive portfolio and an assessment in order to qualify for National Board Certification.

Schueler’s hard work paid off.

“The work was intense, but not impossible. I think it was a bigger stressor than I had realized, however. When I got out to my car after finishing my tests in June, I cried. I’m a crier anyway, but I wasn’t expecting that. It was a really huge weight off my shoulders to have the whole process completed, even if I didn’t know the result yet,” said Schueler. A sense of relief and pride, no doubt.

Schueler’s family and friends are understandably incredibly proud of her recent success.

“My parents are extremely proud. They always have been proud and supportive my whole life. My husband was also proud and excited my work paid off, but my kids are too little to really get it. A few colleagues have congratulated me after they read the school district’s article, but honestly, most people don’t know anything about board certification. Part of my job going forward will be to educate people about National Board Certification, to encourage other colleagues to attempt it and to support those who choose to move forward. Support is key. I had great mentors around the state that read my reflections and gave me suggestions on how to tighten up my writing and how to more clearly connect my instruction to the standards,” said Schueler.

Since her board certification, Schueler’s life has not slowed down.

“National Board Certification opens up new national connections and leadership experiences because it’s such a highly respected program amongst the leaders in the education field. This year I applied and was accepted to be part of a Teacher Leadership Initiative. It is a pilot program of the National Education Association, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standings, and the Center for Teaching Quality. I’m participating in the MN cohort of about 16 people, and we are learning about and practicing teacher leadership through on-line webinars and discussions, mostly. I am in the process of planning my capstone project which will focus on teacher choice and voice in professional development,” said Schueler.

About her elite honor, Schueler said, “I have wanted to become board certified since I learned about it in 2003. Every board certified teacher I’ve ever talked to said it was the best professional development they’d ever done. I wanted that experience, and it finally made sense in my personal life. Plus, it has been 10 years since my master’s degree, so it was time for a new challenge.”

Stillwater Area Public School District is honored to have such a “worldly” and highly educated teacher.