Six teachers in the Richland School District and three in the Kiona-Benton City School District have earned their certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

The certification is considered by many educators to be the top credential in the teaching profession, releases from the districts said.

The certification process takes more than a year and requires teachers to submit a portfolio -- comprising student work samples, video of the teacher working in the classroom and other information -- to a national panel for review.

In Richland, the recently certified teachers include Jenny Gatherer, Laura Pieters, Audra Richter and Jason Rose at Richland High School and Wendy Holsten and Peggy Wade at Chief Joseph Middle School.

In Ki-Be, Judi Harding, Malisa Ibarra and Laura McClanahan earned the certification.