National Board Certification Support

Aschlyee Braswell is a facilitator for the UCLA NBPTS Project and the CTA and NEA sponsored BIPOC cohort of the NBPTS Project. She holds a BA in Social Welfare with a minor in Education from UC Berkeley, an MEd in Teacher Leadership from California Lutheran University, a bilingual authorization in Spanish, and has held National Board Certification since 2017. She has taught in both California and New York with a focus in the primary grades and is currently teaching kindergarten in a Dual Language Immersion setting. In addition to her classroom work, she mentors teachers and collaborates at the district level to support literacy instruction and integration of new curriculum into the school sites. Aschlyee is passionate about creating meaningful lessons that meet the needs of her diverse students and supporting and empowering educators to help their students become lifelong learners.

Mike earned his BFA in theatre from the College of Santa Fe. When being a starving actor in Los Angeles lost its appeal, Mike enrolled in UCLA’s Extension program to earn an Ed Specialist Credential and began working in South Central/Watts. Upon moving to Environmental Charter School in Inglewood, he began teaching in a self-contained classroom (SDC) and eventually added an Extensive Needs authorization to his credential. In 2019-2020, Mike participated in UCLA’s National Board Project as a candidate and achieved National Board certification in December 2020. He stayed close to the program, working as a 1:1 support provider and began working more extensively in a support facilitator role. During the spring, Mike serves as an assistant baseball coach for the organization’s high school baseball team. Mike continues to remain passionate about creating meaningful inclusive experiences for all students and is grateful to remain engaged with low-income communities of color to prepare conscious, critical thinkers. On the off-chance there is a free moment, it’s generally spent at the gym lifting weights or swimming and/or watching reruns of Top Chef, Great British Baking Show, or Star Trek. 

Courtney Magala has taught secondary English in South Los Angeles for 10 years. She earned a BA in English literature from La Sierra University and a M.Ed from UCLA. In addition to taking on teacher-leadership roles during her teaching career, she became a National Board candidate in 2024 and is eagerly awaiting the results of her submissions. Courtney is passionate about building classroom relationships and encouraging students to be advocates for their education and their communities. 

Mary Littlepage is a Learning Facilitator for the UCLA NBPTS Project. This year she is also hosting the MOC cohort sessions for National Board Certified teachers who are working toward Maintenance of Certification. Mary became a Nationally Board Certified Teacher in 2018, and she has enthusiastically supported aspiring candidates since then! She holds a BA in Elementary Education from Moody Bible Institute, a masters degree in Research Methods in Education from the University of Kentucky, is currently a third year doctoral candidate in Education Sciences at the University of Kentucky. She started her career as a kindergarten teacher in Chinatown, Chicago, and spent the next 13 years teaching kindergarten and second grade at a private school in the greater Los Angeles area. In addition to her responsibilities as a doctoral student and Learning Facilitator, she works as an independent consultant with a reading program where she has the opportunity to train and support teachers throughout the United States as they promote literacy in their own classrooms.

Laura Ruiz is a Learning Facilitator and Assistant to the Director for the UCLA NBPTS Project. This year she is also supporting the Summer Institute & the Component 4 Saturday sessions for teachers who are working towards Certification. Laura became a Nationally Board Certified Teacher in 2022, and began one-on-one Teacher Facilitation in 2023. She holds a BA in Biology and Environmental Studies from UC Santa Cruz, a masters degree in Forest Science From Yale University, School of the Environment, and received her Single Subject Teaching credential in Biological Sciences from Cal State University of Long Beach in 2005. She has taught all types of science including AP Bio, Environmental Science and most recently 8th Grade science, in the greater Los Angeles area since 2005. In addition to her responsibilities at the UCLA NBPTS Project, she works as a reader for Pearson, scoring Science CalTPA exams and NBCT components.  She also works as a data reviewer of the California Science Test (CAST) results for the Sacramento Office of Education and ETS. Laura finds her work with Teachers seeking National Board certification to be extremely inspiring.