DEERING - A Dawson-Bryant Elementary School teacher's love of the classroom has put her into an elite class of teachers.

Julie Bocook, who teaches third grade reading, received her national teaching certification Nov. 18 from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

"Of course, we're very proud," Dawson-Bryant Elementary principal Eric Holmes said.

"She is one of only three teachers in the county to date that has gotten this certification. The only one this year, to my knowledge, with the national board certification. …We're proud of her."

According to its Web site, NBPTS is "an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization governed by a board of directors, the majority of whom are classroom teachers."

Its mission is to "advance the quality of teaching and learning by maintaining high and rigorous standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do, providing a national voluntary system certifying teachers who meet these standards and advocating related education reforms to integrate National Board Certification in American education and to capitalize on the expertise of National Board Certified Teachers."

Bocook is certified as a middle childhood generalist.

The process of receiving the national certification can take 1-3 years. Bocook earned her stripes in two.

The process of gaining the national recognition included the submission of numerous portfolios and completion of several skill assessments in reading, math and science.

"It's been a lot of hard work," Bocook said. "It did take time away from my family and even from my classroom. But it was worthwhile. It was worth doing."

Holmes said other teachers in his building are also working to get their national board certification.

Two other Lawrence County educators have gotten their national certification: South Point teacher Sandra Mers and Chesapeake teacher Amy McCallister.