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Franklin Elementary Teacher Earns National Board Certification

Alex Bianchi

The Ken-Ton School District is proud to announce that Franklin Elementary School first-grade teacher Alex Bianchi is the most recent Ken-Ton educator to earn National Board Certification, which is considered the gold standard in teaching.

Board Certification is awarded by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards based in Arlington, Virginia. It is a performance-based peer-review process similar to board certification in medicine. Earning National Board Certification is a rigorous process which includes written entries, exams, and video submissions. Certification is based on a candidate’s subject area knowledge, evidence of differentiation in instruction, video recordings of classroom practices, and evidence of being an effective and reflective educator.

Alex was assisted by workshops supported by the Ken-Ton School DIstrict Staff Development Center which assist teachers in navigating this intensive process.

"His knowledge of his students and his dedication to addressing their needs was evident in his lesson planning and analysis of the effectiveness of his teaching," said Kathleen Reiser, a retired Ken-Ton educator who assists teachers in achieving their certification. "He is an exemplary teacher and a wonderful example of the outstanding teaching that place every day in the Ken-Ton School District."

National Board Certification is the most respected professional certification available in education and we are honored to count Alex as one of our teachers. The Ken-Ton School District is among the districts in New York State with the highest number of National Board Certified teachers. Also, Ken-Ton has one of the highest percentages – if not the highest percentage – of its teaching staff who have earned this distinction in the region.

Current/retired Ken-Ton educators who earned their certification are:

  • Alex Bianchi (Franklin Elementary)
  • Robyn Brydalski (Franklin Elementary)
  • Jeanette Costello (Kenmore East)
  • Penelope DePasquale (Hoover Middle)
  • Heather Gardner (Hoover Elementary)
  • Larissa Gramza (Franklin Elementary)
  • Nicole Hanagan (Kenmore Junior/Senior High)
  • Laura Howse (Kenmore West)
  • Michael Ihde (Kenmore East)
  • Amy Klose (Kenmore West)
  • Shannon Pariso (Franklin Middle)
  • Mary Ricotta (Franklin Middle)
  • Jeanette Yoder (Franklin Middle)
  • Susan Busch (retired)
  • Renee L. Freda (retired)
  • Marilyn Drnevich (retired)
  • Joanna Hourihan (retired)
  • Patricia Kosis (retired)
  • Nancyann Militello (retired)
  • Rachel Newman (retired)
  • Lisa Parks (retired)
  • Carmelina Persico (former principal)
  • Kathleen Reiser (retired)
  • Valerie Tundo (retired)
  • Tracy Wilson (retired)