Three River View Elementary School teachers were among the 461 Illinois teachers to this year earn National Board of Professional Teaching Standard certifications.

Considered the highest professional recognition for educators, kindergarten teacher Joanne “Joei” Ocenasek, first grade teacher Kristen Dunow and fourth grade teacher Susanne Ramsak went through the voluntary, rigourous assessment program that recognizes excellent teachers while helping them improve.

The certification takes about one to three years to complete, and candidates are required to demonstrate advanced and in-depth teaching knowledge, skills and practices.

Candidates must also build a portfolio that includes student work samples, assignments, videotapes and a complete analysis of their classroom teachers.

Additionally, candidates are tested on the subject they teach.

Ocenasek, Dunow and Ramsak are now included in the 15 current or former NBPTS-certified D. 202 teachers.

Before coming to D. 202 in 2002, Dunow began her teaching career in 1993 in Cicero District 99.

Ocenasek began her teaching career in 2001 in Naperville District 203 before joining D. 202 in Aug. 2001.

Ramsak began her teaching career in 1991 as an instructional aide at Dirksen Junior High School. Her resume also includes working as an elementary general education resource teacher, as well as teaching fourth and fifth grades. She began working in D. 202 in 1998.

Over 6,200 teachers nationally earned NBPTS certification this year. Nationwide, there are around 97,300 NBPTS-certified teachers.