Three Kirkwood School District Educators Earn National Board Certification

Three educators from the Kirkwood School District have earned National Board Certification (NBC), the highest credential in the teaching profession, recognizing their commitment to instructional excellence and student success.

Courtney Wells, a kindergarten teacher at Tillman Elementary School, earned her National Board Certification in Generalist–Early Childhood. This marks Wells’ 19th year teaching at Tillman. In addition to her classroom work, she serves on the district’s Elementary Social Studies Curriculum Committee. Wells was also selected as the Kirkwood School District Teacher of the Year for the 2024–25 school year. Outside of school, she enjoys baking and reading.

“Courtney's accomplishment represents countless hours of intentional study and reflection, all in service of helping kids,” said Dr. Bryan Painter, principal of Tillman Elementary. “She is authentic in each interaction she has with her students, their families, and our colleagues. She advocates for every one of her students and is deeply committed to their success and sense of belonging. We are incredibly proud of Courtney and grateful for the loving passion and expertise she brings to Tillman every day.”

Also earning National Board Certification are two educators from Keysor Elementary School.

Jennifer Bartin, Library Media Specialist at Keysor, earned her NBC in Library Media. Bartin is in her 14th year at Keysor and her 22nd year in the Kirkwood School District. She coaches Keysor’s Battle of the Books team and Girls on the Run, and leads Early Bird Readers, Chess Club, and the fifth-grade yearbook committee. Bartin was named Keysor Teacher of the Year for the 2016–17 school year. Her personal interests include traveling, hiking, gardening, and reading.

Stephanie Byrne, an Instructional Specialist at Keysor Elementary, earned her National Board Certification in Literacy: English Language Arts – Early and Middle Childhood. Byrne is in her 27th year of teaching at Keysor and serves on the school’s Guiding Coalition. She enjoys gardening and spending time with her sons.

“We are incredibly proud to celebrate Jen Bartin and Steph Byrne on achieving their National Board Certification,” said Dr. Alyssa Taylor, principal of Keysor Elementary. “This honor is the highest recognition in the teaching profession and reflects their expertise and tireless dedication to Keysor students. Both Jen and Steph embody the spirit of lifelong learning, and their commitment to excellence enriches our entire school community.”

The National Board Certification is awarded by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and is a voluntary, advanced credential that goes beyond state licensure. Certification is achieved through a rigorous, performance-based assessment process that typically takes one to three years to complete. Teachers submit a comprehensive portfolio that includes student work samples, classroom videos, and detailed analysis of their instructional practices.

The certification process is grounded in five core propositions that demonstrate a teacher’s commitment to students, deep content knowledge, and effective instructional practice. According to the National Board Assessment Database, fewer than one percent of Missouri teachers—approximately 0.70%—have attained National Board Certification.