“National Boards challenges the educator through deep self-reflection. It invigorates your practice, and helps the educator to become the instructor you would want your own child to have.” 

~Charlotte Meza

South Ocala Elementary

National Board Overview

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (National Board) is a not-for-profit professional organization, created and governed by practicing teachers and their advocates. The founding mission of the National Board is to advance the quality of teaching and learning by

• maintaining high and rigorous standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do;
• providing a national voluntary system certifying teachers who meet these standards; and
• advocating related education reforms to integrate National Board Certification into American education and to capitalize on the expertise of National Board Certified Teachers.

Recognized as the “gold standard” in teacher certification, the National Board believes higher standards for teachers means better learning for students.

Created by Teachers, for Teachers

The National Board Standards represent a consensus among educators about what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do. Board certification is available in 25 certificate areas spanning 16 disciplines from Pre-K through 12th grade.

Founded in 1987, the National Board began by engaging teachers in the development of standards for accomplished teaching and in the building of an assessment – National Board Certification – that validly and reliably identifies when a teacher meets those standards. Today, there are 25 certificate areas that span 16 content areas and four student developmental levels. The essence of the National Board’s vision of accomplished teaching is captured in the enduring document What Teachers Should Know and Be Able to Do, at the heart of which are the Five Core Propositions:

While teacher licensure systems set basic requirements to teach in each state, completion of Board certification means a teacher has voluntarily gone much further. National Board Certified Teachers have demonstrated the professional knowledge, skills, and practices required of an outstanding educator. Board certification allows teachers to hone their practice, showcase their talent in the classroom and demonstrate their dedication to their students and their profession. A distinction that follows wherever their career takes them.

Benefits to Board Certification

National Board Certification is the most respected professional distinction available in education.

• Board-certified teachers represent a large network of outstanding teachers shaping the profession and supporting their colleagues.

• Teachers and students benefit immediately as the high and rigorous National Board Standards come alive in their classroom during the certification process.
• Board Certification allows teachers to hone their practice, showcase their talent in the classroom and demonstrate their dedication to their students and their profession.

• Because Board-certified teachers are recognized as experts, they are often sought out for leadership positions in their schools and districts. Many NBCTs move on to serve as school and district administrators or within the state department of education.

• Marion County offers reimbursement opportunities for classroom teachers as they pass each of the four components in addition to a yearly supplement for teachers who maintain a National Board Certification in the area he/she is serving in.

Getting Certified

Grounded in the National Board's Five Core Propositions that describe what teachers should know and be able to do, the certification process is designed to collect standards-based evidence of accomplished practice. In all 25 certificate areas, candidates are required to complete four components. The specific instructions will vary by certificate area, as will the standards assessed by each component.

Component 1: Content Knowledge

A computer-based assessment asks you to demonstrate your understanding of content knowledge and pedagogical practices for teaching your content area. You must demonstrate knowledge of developmentally appropriate content, which is necessary for teaching across the full age range and ability level of your chosen certificate area. This is assessed through the completion of three constructed response exercises and 45 selected response items.

Component 2: Differentiation in Instruction

This classroom-based portfolio entry requires that candidates gather and analyze information about individual students' strengths and needs and use that information to design and implement instruction to advance student learning and achievement. You will submit selected work samples that demonstrate the students' growth over time and a written commentary that analyzes your instructional choices.

Component 3: Teaching Practice and Learning Environment

This is a classroom-based portfolio entry that requires video recordings of interactions between you and your students. You will also submit a written commentary in which you describe, analyze and reflect on your teaching and interactions with students. Both the video and the written commentary should demonstrate how you engage students and impact their learning.

Component 4: Effective and Reflective Practitioner

This portfolio entry requires you to demonstrate evidence of your abilities as an effective and reflective practitioner in developing and applying knowledge of your students; your use of assessments to effectively plan for and positively impact your students' learning, and your collaboration to advance students' learning and growth.

Flexible Process

Set your own pace and sequence throughout the process.

• Take up to three years to complete the four components.

• Complete the components in any sequence.

• You have two opportunities to retake a component if needed.

• Each component costs $475; pay for components separately.

Learn more by visiting

www.nbpts.org

twitter.com/NBPTS

Danielle Chauncey

Professional Development Program Specialist

(352) 236 - 0500 Extention: 50032

Danielle.Chauncey@marion.k12.fl.us