I had the pleasure of speaking about National Board Certification tonight as 10 teachers were honored for this achievement. National Board Certification is a voluntary advanced certification for professional educators. This certification is a rigorous / performance-based/ and peer-review process—- similar to Board certification in medicine.
This process was founded in 1987 and since that time over 100,000 teachers across the country have achieved this level. To date, 254 teachers in Maine have successfully completed the rigorous process, with 10 Nationally Board Certified teachers in the Portland Public Schools.
Why should we care about having Nationally Board Certified Teachers? Studies have shown that students of National Board Certified Teachers outperform students of non-NBCTs on achievement tests, and the positive impact of having a National Board certified Teacher is even greater for minority and low-income students. The National Research Council has confirmed that National Board teachers advance student achievement and learning, stay in the classroom longer, support new and struggling teachers, and assume other school-based leadership roles.
National Board Certification can create more professional and educationally rewarding relationships among teachers and between teachers and administrators. In addition, the process of pursuing National Board certification models a reflective culture for teachers, their colleagues, and their students.
The professionals honored tonight pursued this challenge and were successful. They were looking for a way to inform their practice, become a better teacher, and reflect on their instruction in the classroom. All of these individuals currently provide leadership in their school or at the district level. With the right support, we should work together to rapidly increase the number of Nationally Board Certified educators in Maine.
Congratulations to Lorraine Bobinsky, Emily Serway, Ann Young, Kathryn Toppan, Drew Pisani, Carol Nylen, Jacob McNally, Rachel Landry and Caroline Foster. As an NBCT, I know the depth of this accomplishment and the professional reward it provides. National Board certification is about achieving the highest standards set by a profession, a profession with a critical mission- that of teaching children.
This process was founded in 1987 and since that time over 100,000 teachers across the country have achieved this level. To date, 254 teachers in Maine have successfully completed the rigorous process, with 10 Nationally Board Certified teachers in the Portland Public Schools.
Why should we care about having Nationally Board Certified Teachers? Studies have shown that students of National Board Certified Teachers outperform students of non-NBCTs on achievement tests, and the positive impact of having a National Board certified Teacher is even greater for minority and low-income students. The National Research Council has confirmed that National Board teachers advance student achievement and learning, stay in the classroom longer, support new and struggling teachers, and assume other school-based leadership roles.
National Board Certification can create more professional and educationally rewarding relationships among teachers and between teachers and administrators. In addition, the process of pursuing National Board certification models a reflective culture for teachers, their colleagues, and their students.
The professionals honored tonight pursued this challenge and were successful. They were looking for a way to inform their practice, become a better teacher, and reflect on their instruction in the classroom. All of these individuals currently provide leadership in their school or at the district level. With the right support, we should work together to rapidly increase the number of Nationally Board Certified educators in Maine.
Congratulations to Lorraine Bobinsky, Emily Serway, Ann Young, Kathryn Toppan, Drew Pisani, Carol Nylen, Jacob McNally, Rachel Landry and Caroline Foster. As an NBCT, I know the depth of this accomplishment and the professional reward it provides. National Board certification is about achieving the highest standards set by a profession, a profession with a critical mission- that of teaching children.