Southeastern to host National Board Certification - workshop for teachers

Press Release Date: 05-26-2009

DURANT, Okla. ­ Some 475 teachers from across the state will be on the Southeastern Oklahoma State University campus June 3-4 to participate in a National Board Certification Workshop.

The two-day sessions will be administered by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation (OCTP). The OCTP¹s Education Leadership Oklahoma was created by the Oklahoma Legislature in 1997 for the purpose of providing support for teachers who are participating in the national certification process. Former senator Darryl Roberts, a Distinguished Alumnus of Southeastern, proposed the initial legislation.

National Board Certification is a two-year process, and at the end of that time, teachers may receive a $5,000 annual stipend.

"We are delighted to be hosting this workshop, which is designed for teachers who are seeking to attain national board certification," said Dr. Susan Morrison, director of the Center for National Board Certification and an assistant professor in Educational Instruction and Leadership at Southeastern. "Since the program¹s inception in 1997, more than 2,300 teachers in Oklahoma have earned their national certification. We are looking forward to another outstanding workshop this year, with more than 40 presenters expected to attend."

In 1999, Morrison was among the first teachers in Oklahoma to be granted national board certification. In 2008, she was re-certified through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from Southeastern Oklahoma State University, a M.Ed. in Educational Administration from Southeastern, and a Ed.D. in Supervision, Curriculum, and Instruction from Texas A&M-Commerce. Prior to joining the Southeastern faculty in 2004, Morrison taught for 16 years in elementary schools in Oklahoma and north Texas.

"We are fortunate to have someone with Dr. Morrison¹s credentials to direct this program," said Dr. William Mawer, Dean of the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Southeastern. "It is a special honor for our University to host this workshop, as Southeastern was founded in 1909 as a school to train Oklahoma¹s public school teachers."