Four Muskogee and five Tahlequah educators are among National Board Certified Teachers announced Tuesday by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

Oklahoma had 439 teachers selected, including at least 19 from the Muskogee area.

Muskogee teachers are: Robin Allen, Early Childhood Center; Jennifer Morphis, first grade, Ben Franklin Science Academy; Michelle Collins, family and consumer science, 7th and 8th Grade Center; and David Shouse, sixth grade, Cherokee Elementary.

Tahlequah teachers are: Cathy Couch, Charles Pack, Michelle Johnson, Jennifer Lynn and Peggy Williams.

Other area teachers are: Lisa Kerns, second grade, Hilldale; Shasta Teague, kindergarten, and Sharon Long, third grade, Okay; Deborah Catlett, algebra, Oktaha; Leah Spradlin, Porum; Janna Blaylock, Sallisaw, Linda Goeller and Autumn Gladd, Keys and Vicki Reece, Westville.

National Board certification is a voluntary assessment program designed to recognize and reward teachers — and make them better. While state licensing systems set basic requirements to teach in each state, NBCTs have demonstrated advanced teaching knowledge, skills and practices. Certification is achieved through a performance-based assessment that typically takes one to three years to complete.