By Brittany Titus
Round Table editor

Principals are a school’s leader; someone who cares about the students and the choices they make in their lives to keep them safe and healthy.

Middletown High School’s Principal Jay Berno is one of Frederick County’s five principals that were selected for the first-ever National Board Certification Program.

“I was quite proud to be selected; I knew there were a lot of applicants,” said MHS Principal Jay Berno.

Only 660 principals were selected across the U.S. to field test the program which is sponsored by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards organization.

The NBPTS has high standards for a teacher or principal to be qualified. The requirements were composed of nine standards in three areas: skills, applications and dispositions. The standards were designed to advance instructional leadership in order to improve student achievement.

The first task conducted by the certification program for Berno to complete is a study of the MHS learning community. Students, teachers and families and others connected with the school will receive a survey to collect data about leadership practices and community.

The survey will have students respond indirectly on how to improve the school and by this engagement, Berno can make that happen. The responses to the survey are confidential and will be kept anonymous.

MHS senior Jessica Police said, “The survey was interesting, it showed that Mr. Berno cared about Middletown and the community.”

MHS students feel that picking Berno as a choice for the program was smart. He teaches students what it means to be a MHS Knight and how to handle tough decisions in life and how to conquer them.

“He has a good balance of humor and education. He keeps the environment fun but still a good work ethic,” said MHS senior Zak Wachter.

Principal Berno wants students to face the realities in life to prepare them for college. He encourages them to be strong throughout college and afterwards when they are applying for a job.

“I want to prepare students for the global competition for when they enter the work force. I want students to apply for a job and have a chance like everyone else,” said Berno.

Berno wants to help Middletown High School and its community. Being selected by this program gives him the chance at making a difference in Middletown.

“Middletown has a tradition of being good. I would like Middletown to become great. My belief from Jim Collins is ‘the enemy of great is good’,” said Berno.