Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools announced eight employees received certifications by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards on Monday.

Michael Irwin from Chapel Hill High School, Corrie Franklin from Culbreth Middle School, Melissa Olson at East Chapel Hill High School, Jaimee Comellas at Frank Porter Graham Bilingue School, Amanda Thorne at Glendwood Elementary School, Melanie Kilgo and Katherine Ciccarelli at McDougle Elementary School, and Lachmi Resaul at UNC Hospital School all received their certification to become National Board Certified Teachers. The honor celebrates accomplished educators and signifies a high mark of professional achievement.

These educators joined a growing community of NBCTs, now more than 126,000 strong, across all 50 states. North Carolina continues to lead the nation in the number of teachers who have earned certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Nearly 23,000 teachers in North Carolina have attained this national certification, which is based on a rigorous performance-based assessment that typically takes from one to three years to complete and measures what accomplished teachers and counselors should know and be able to demonstrate. CHCCS had 19 other employees who are NBCTs before adding the eight to its ranks.

Newly National Board Certified Teachers, along with those achieving recertification this year, will be recognized at a celebration in May.

More information about the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is available at the board’s website.