Working with a mentor increases the likelihood that National Board candidates certify. WEAC members can receive up to three hours of personalized mentoring from a WEAC NBCT each year of candidacy. Please know this three hour block includes the time it may take for your mentor to read your entries.
To be assigned a mentor, please select five choices and e-mail their names to [email protected]. While it may seem advantageous to connect with a mentor in your certification field, any NBCT can serve as your mentor. It’s as much about the process as about the product; having a critical set of eyes outside of your teaching area has benefits.
Mentor requests must be made prior to March 31 during your year of submission.
This service is provided only to WEAC members as a benefit of your continued membership.
Meet our NBCT Mentors
Cathy Anderson:
A retired, 36+ year secondary science teacher, Cathy is an EA/Science NBCT, twice renewed. Additional experience includes: St. Mary’s University of MN Master’s instructor (10 yrs), state inservice presenter, and secondary guest teacher. Cathy served as co-chair of the EA/Science Standards (2nd ed.), member of current NB Science Standards, and served on the NB Board of Directors (9 years). A long time candidate support provider, component presenter, and cohort facilitator, Cathy is passionate about helping candidates through their NB journey (initial & renewal).
Danielle Chaussee:
Danielle has taught Spanish at Oconomowoc High School since 2003. She achieved National Board Certification in World Languages / Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood in 2010 and renewed in 2020. Since 2010 she has mentored candidates, in all areas of certification, from around the state. Danielle is passionate about helping her students grow as global citizens and empowering them to take action on local and global topics of importance to them. She is a leader of Oconomowoc High School’s Freshman Day of Service Learning and is also the Global Scholars Program Coordinator.
Amy Digman:
I received my undergrad degree from UW-Platteville and my Masters from Carroll University. I am currently a teaching and learning specialist (TLS) within the Elmbrook School District in Brookfield, WI. Previously, I taught kindergarten for 16 years within the Elmbrook SD. I am a NBCT (EC Generalist) and completed my Maintenance of Certification (MOC) in 2021. I was selected to pilot the assessment (Component 1) and the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) for the last revision.
Lyman Elliott:
Lyman is a late-comer to the teaching profession. During his 18 years as a social studies teacher (Beloit Memorial HS and Madison West HS) Lyman achieve National Board Certification in AYA Social Studies/History. Lyman recently shifted to Career & Tech Ed and teaches Woods and Construction at Milton HS. He has been mentoring candidates, organizing NBCT support programming, and leveraging the status of NBCTs to advocate for the profession and strengthen our union since 2013. Lyman is a National Board Jumpstart facilitator. Lyman successfully completed the Maintenance of Certification Process in 2023 and scored/assessed Component 3 during the 2022 evaluation cycle.
Kelly Ferguson:
Kelly achieved National Board Certification for World Languages other Than English in 2007 after an unsuccessful initial attempt. Since attending NBPTS Jump Start training in Washington in 2016 she has worked with candidates in the Madison area to help them avoid the errors made her time through the process. Kelly has taught Spanish in Madison since 2003, and is a prolific presenter at Wisconsin-area and national world languages conferences.
Marquel Hooks:
I have more than 20 years of experience in both the regular and special education settings. I am passionate about restorative practices. I am certified in Middle Childhood Generalist currently pursuing MOC.
Lauren Jagemann:
I have been teaching high school math since 2008, recently focused on AP Statistics, AP Calculus AB, and Algebra 2/Trig, and spent the last 16 years in Milwaukee Public Schools. I am a proud public and urban educator, and a proud NBCT. I believe in the National Board as a process of deep professional reflection and growth, and how empowering engaging in the process can be. Some other education endeavors that drive my passion in this work are as a Link Crew coordinator and Ropes and Challenges facilitator. I achieved initial certification in 2020 and maintained in 2024.
Sarah Johnston:
I’ve been teaching 7th grade since 1998! I taught many years of ELA and became certified in EA - ELA in 2015. I have switched to teaching geography, but still incorporate ELA strategies into our lessons. I’m happy to mentor in any certificate area.
Lauren Kell:
As a teacher and mentor, I have had the honor of working with students from Kindergarten through graduate school. It is my goal to help candidates successfully navigate the National Board process by thoroughly analyzing the component requirements and their own written responses. I have experience supporting both initial and maintenance of certification candidates.
Tracey Leider:
I have been a science teacher for over 20 years and currently work in Oregon, Wisconsin. I teach AP Environmental Science, Environmental Science and Human Anatomy and Physiology to high school students. I have a master’s degree in Environmental Education and my current passion is literacy in science. I teach workshops on infusing literacy without sacrificing science content. I'm happy to mentor people in other areas as well as I have recently become trained on scoring for NBPTS so I have a renewed passion for helping people demonstrate their awesomeness.
Laura Lofton:
I've taught art (on-a-cart) at Escuela Vieau (K-8) for 11 of my 22 years of teaching. I've taught art at all levels, and also English as a second language. My teaching practice is regularly energized by mentoring student teachers every semester. I love to integrate other subjects into the art classes that I teach, and lately have been working with Computer Science and Engineering processes in my art classes.
Kristin Martens:
I have over 12 years of teaching and currently am a 5th grade teacher in Greendale. Previously I taught lower elementary for five years. I was Nationally Board Certified in 2017 under the new system. Becoming a NBCT was a challenging, yet extremely rewarding process for me. I have previously worked as an edTPA assessor and PDP reviewer. I serve as a mentor in my building and have taken Instructional Mentoring courses at Cardinal Stritch. My passion is math. In 2017, I mentored a renewal candidate. I look forward to working for new NBCT candidates.
Jane Patterson Mlenar:
I am currently a math instructional support teacher in Greendale. I have been teaching middle school math for more than 31 years in the Milwaukee area. I have been mentoring candidates for more than 15 years both one-on one-and in small groups. I have also been a facilitator for UW LaCrosse in their ME-PD masters program. I am happy to work with teachers in any certification area.
Dena Pulos:
I have taught in rural, urban, and suburban schools for over 20 years. Most of my experience is in K-12 literacy and math instruction as well as special education. I recently found my passion in teaching ESL these past few years. I am happy to give back and support other educators going through the process. I have also recertified under the MOC process and can assist you to recertify.
