Photo by Luke Quezada
Staff Photographer
The South Pasadena School Board recognized SPHS chemistry teacher Benjamin Ku as the latest National Board Certification recipient during Tuesday’s board meeting.
Ku spent three years on the project, spending nearly 300 hours to achieve the feat. South Pasadena School Board members expressed gratitude for Ku’s contributions to SPHS.
“Your commitment to your students is evident,” Board member Julie Giulioni said to Ku.
The NBC process was formed by teachers and requires instructors to display five core propositions in a four step certification process. Each proposition describes qualities that “accomplished teachers display”. The four basic requirements for the certification are: content knowledge, differentiation in instruction, teaching practice and learning environment, and becoming an effective and reflective practitioner.
Upon certification, NBC teachers are regarded as experts in their field and are often sought out for leadership positions in their own and other districts.
“It’s equivalent to another masters degree,” Dr. Suzie Abajian said when describing the time spent working on the certification.
Ku grew up in South Pasadena and attended SPUSD schools, one of his former teachers being SPHS physics teacher Dean Papadakis.
“He’s not only an inspiration to his students but to his colleagues,” Papadakis said.
