MADISON – Celebrities know they ‘have arrived’ by receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In Madison City Schools, a lobby wall at Central Office is reserved for ‘stars’ of the classroom who are award winners as National Board Certified Teachers or NBCT.

The Central Office wall recently received 11 new stars for the Madison educators who have achieved the distinction of NBCT. In addition, 16 teachers attained NBCT renewal, required every five years for teachers to retain the qualification.

The latest installment of ‘stars’ raises the total of NBCTs in MCS to 105 individuals. This level of NBCTs is among the highest in the state, regardless of the school district’s size, according to MCS Public Relations Manager John Peck.

At its meeting on Feb. 8, Madison Board of Education recognized educators who attained a ‘star’ in NBCT ranks:

* Jeremiah Brand — Science teacher at Journey Middle School.

* Jennifer Chandler — Pre-advanced-placement geometry and algebra at Bob Jones High School.

* Amy Harbison — English at Journey.

* Nancy M. Hartfield — AP Calculus BC at James Clemens High School.

* Lauren Hillis — English Language Learners at Rainbow Elementary School.

* Bethany Kachelman — English Language Learners at Midtown Elementary School.

* Shemeaka King — Second grade at Mill Creek Elementary School.

* Hanna Napier — Sixth-grade math and accelerated math 6 at Discovery Middle School.

* Laura Phillips — Pre-AP chemistry and biomedical science at James Clemens.

* Dr. Sarah Prevallet — Science grades 6-8 at Discovery.

* Leslie Tignor-Hughes — Honors English 8 and public speaking at Discovery.

MCS Superintendent Dr. Ed Nichols congratulated the new NBCTs. He said they represent the ‘best of the best’ in Madison City Schools. He likened the group to the top-notch status of pilots in the Tom Cruise movie, “Top Gun.”

“You have truly soared where few people have gone,” Nichols said.

MCS teachers who recently renewed NBCT certifications are Kelsey Cooper, Jane Herndon, Heather Kell, Megan Kerstiens, Adrienne King, Kara Lawrence, Beth Massey, Nichole Murray, Julia Nagle, Sharon Rowland, Kerri Scroggins, Sarah Stewart, Wendy Tibbs, Kate Wade, Katie Weir and Micky Worley.

Studies show that students taught by board-certified teachers gain an extra one to two months of learning each school year, with the positive impact even greater for low-income students, MCS Chief Academic Officer Dr. Heather Donaldson said.