Burmaster announces first Wisconsin master educators

State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster announced the names of 13 individuals who have earned master educator licenses through the Wisconsin Master Educator Assessment Process. “These 13 pioneer educators have been judged to be outstanding by a panel of their peers,” Burmaster said. “They have demonstrated that they are highly trained and successful educators who know their subject, know how to teach, and know how to lead an educational organization.”

To be eligible for a Wisconsin Master Educator License, an educator must have earned a master’s degree and have at least five years of successful professional experience in education. The assessment process includes a portfolio that shows mastery of the 10 teaching standards, seven pupil services standards, or seven administrator standards, including evidence of contributions to the profession and documentation of improved pupil learning.

The 13 educators who earned Wisconsin Master Educator Licenses based on portfolios submitted in the 2005-06 school year include two superintendents, four principals, and seven teachers. They are: Patricia Becker, speech/language pathology teacher, Racine County Children with Disabilities Education Board; Carrie Begalke, speech/language pathology teacher, Arrowhead Union High School; Linda Carver, speech/language pathology teacher, Waukesha School District; Timothy Culver, superintendent, Sun Prairie Area School District; Mary Gillette, speech/language pathology teacher, Antigo School District; Thomas Hanley, principal, Milwaukee Public Schools; Donald Janecki, principal, Milwaukee Public Schools; Anne Kleinschmidt, speech/language pathology teacher, Antigo School District; Kathleen Knoll, psychology teacher, South Milwaukee School District; Pamela Knorr, superintendent, Walworth J1 School District; Jane Lind, speech/language pathology teacher, Berlin Area School District; Ruth Maegli, principal, Milwaukee Public Schools; and Patricia Walia, principal, Milwaukee Public Schools.

This was the first time that administrators and pupil services professionals could have mastery of their practice assessed and recognized by the state’s professional educational community and the Department of Public Instruction. The DPI developed and piloted the Wisconsin Master Educator Assessment Process to allow administrators and pupil services providers to demonstrate professional mastery. The 13 master educators are the first to meet or exceed standards set for demonstrating mastery in their category of licensure.

The development of a master educator stage of licensure was recommended in 1995 by the Task Force on Restructuring Teacher Education and Licensing. The recommendation follows the belief that career-long professional development and performance-based assessment of practice were essential to ensuring both the professional growth of individuals and the improvement of student achievement.

Additional information about the Wisconsin Master Educator License is available on the Department of Public Instruction website at http://dpi.wisconsin.gov/tepdl/wmeapsumm.html.

Last updated on 10/2/2006