Richmond Heights Counselor Earns Prized Certification

A counselor at one school recently joined an elite group of U.S. educators by attaining certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

"I'm kind of the poster child for persistence and perseverance," said Mary Darst, a counselor at , during Dec. 15.

Fewer than 4 percent of all U.S. teachers have achieved National Board Certification, school board President Maria Langston said. Darst is the ninth MRH educator to earn the distinction.

Darst said the path to certification is akin to that taken by certified public accountants because it can be completed in chunks. She has encouraged other MRH staff to pursue the program. Five MRH Elementary School employees are working toward certification.

There are "a lot of strong learners in our faculty community," said Darst, who thanked the school board for its support of staff and professional development.

Other certified teachers came to the school board meeting to attend a reception and support Darst.