National Board Certified Teachers

Every student deserves to be taught by an accomplished teacher. National Board Certification was designed to develop, retain and recognize accomplished teachers and to generate ongoing improvement in schools nationwide. It is the most respected professional certification available in K-12 education.

Created by teachers, for teachers, the National Board Standards represent a consensus among educators about what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do. Board certification is available in 25 certificate areas spanning 16 disciplines from Pre-K through 12th grade.

The certification process requires that teachers demonstrate standards-based evidence of the positive effect they have on student learning in alignment with the Five Core Propositions. They must exhibit a deep understanding of their students, content knowledge, use of data and assessments and teaching practice. They must also show that they participate in learning communities and provide evidence of ongoing reflection and continuous learning.

Lake Havasu Unified School District is proud to recognize our teachers that have achieved National Board Certification.

nbct logo

A teachers work is never done.

Our LHUSD National Board Certified Teachers recently spent the morning discussing how to leverage teacher leadership in our district with Lattes and Leadership, Beans and Books, Coffee and Conversation! 

Shout out to Streetside Coffee, for hosting all of our National Board teachers!

group picture of LHUSD National Board Certified Teachers

Elementary Schools

HAVASUPAI

Devin Mann
Devin Mann
Literacy - Reading Language Arts / Early and Middle Childhood
Year: 2020
Jamie Hammer
Jamie Hammer
Literacy - Reading Language Arts / Early and Middle Childhood
Year: 2021
Norma Zink
Norma Zink
Literacy - Reading Language Arts / Early and Middle Childhood
Year: 2021

NAUTILUS

headshot of Stephanie Caterina
Stephanie Caterina
Literacy - Reading Language Arts / Early and Middle Childhood
Year: 2022
headshot of Kristen Friesz, NBCT
Kristen Friesz
Literacy - / Early and Middle Childhood
Year: 2023
pic of Kelsey Gibbs
Kelsey Gibbs
Generalist - Early Childhood
Year: 2021

ORO GRANDE

Carol Nowakowski
Carol Nowakowski
Mathematics / Early Adolescence
Year: 2021
Tara Smith
Tara Smith
Exceptional Needs Specialist / 
Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
Year: 2015

SMOKETREE

Nina Mersing
Nina Mersing
Generalist - Early Childhood
Year: 2017, 2022 Renewal

STARLINE

headshot of Rachel Charette
Rachel Charette
Generalist - Early Childhood
Year: 2022
Christina Musselman
Christina Musselman
Literacy - Reading Language Arts / Early and Middle Childhood
Year: 2011, 2020 Renewal
Teresa Nigg
Theresa Nigg
Generalist - Early Childhood
Year: 2020
Raichel Nutt
Raichel Nutt
Generalist - Early Childhood
Year: 2019, 2023 Renewal
Ginny Sautner
Ginny Sautner
English Language Arts / 
Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Year: 2014, 2023 Renewal
Melissa Waller
Melissa Waller
Generalist - Early Childhood
Year: 2019, 2023 Renewal
Courtney Zampogna
Courtney Zampogna
Literacy - Reading Language Arts / Early and Middle Childhood
Year: 2017, 2022 Renewal

Thunderbolt Middle School

Lake Havasu High School

pic of Cathy Bagby
Cathy Bagby
CTE / Early Adolescence
and Young Adulthood
Year: 2021
Marsha Becker
Marsha Becker
Physical Education / Early Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Year: 2009, 2018 Renewal
Sara Darnell
Sara Darnell
Generalist - Middle Childhood
Year: 2009, 2018 Renewal
Chessa Frei
Chessa Frei
Science / Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Year: 2019
Bridget Hagest
Bridget Hagest
Generalist - Middle Childhood
Year: 2015
Marie Hendry
Marie Hendry
CTE / Early Adolescence
and Young Adulthood
Year: 2019, 2023 Renewal
Dustin Zampogna
Dustin Zampogna
Physical Education /
Early Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Year: 2017, 2022 Renewal

District Office

Jaime Festa-Daigle
Jaime Festa-Daigle
Social Studies / History AYA
Year: 2007, 2016 Renewal
Tania Gray
Tania Gray
English Language Arts/ Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Year: 2019, 2023 Renewal
Jackie Murphy
Jackie Murphy
Generalist - Early Childhood
Year: 2019, 2023 Renewal
Christie Olsen
Christie Olsen
Generalist - Middle Childhood
Year: 2002, 2012, 2022 Renewal
Jamie Thuneman
Jamie Thuneman
Generalist - Middle Childhood
Year: 2019, 2023 Renewal