Thomas Jefferson Elementary School art teacher Juls Rathje attended a forum on education at the White House last week, along with other teachers in this year’s cohort of National Board Certified Teachers.

Rathje, along with TJ fourth grade teacher Lisa Allan and TJ Gifted & Talented teacher Heidi Lang, all earned the certification this year and join several other Falls Church City Public Schools teachers who have earned the certification.

Those three teachers were surprised last Friday with balloons and their first bonus checks in their classrooms by FCCPS officials including Superintendent Toni Jones.