She's now part of an elite group. Ruder Elementary School librarian Sara Childers was recognized last week for achieving National Board Certification in library science.

The peer-reviewed certification places Childers in a select group among Montana teachers, said Denise Juneau, the Montana superintendent of public instruction, who came to Columbia Falls to recognize Childers.

"Sara has completed a feat not many have done in Montana," Juneau said. "There are 12,000 teachers in Montana. Fewer than 100 have National Board Certification."

Just seven teachers obtained certification this year, Juneau noted.

Obtaining the certification took more than a year and hundreds of hours of study, Childers said.

"It was much more in-depth than my master's," she said. "And then there's no guarantee. You wait for six months to see if you passed."

"Like board-certified medical doctors, National Board Certified teachers have met high standards through intensive study, expert evaluation, self assessment and peer review," explained Joseph Aguerrebere, president of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

Juneau was on hand to not only recognize Childers but to present her with a $3,000 check. Childers said the money would go toward savings.

Childers has been teaching for 14 years - eight in School District 6. Education runs in her family. Her mother, Susie Hullett, is a school secretary at Bigfork, and her sisters, Stacy and Rhonda, also have teaching degrees. Her father, Rick, owns Montana Tractor.

Many family members were on hand to see Childers recognized by Juneau, except for her husband, Brett.

He planned on attending, but as a detective with the Flathead County Sheriff's Department, he was investigating an armed bank robbery that took place Sept. 28 in Lakeside.