great teacher brochure

N ational Board Certified Teachers consistently receive top honors while representing just over two percent of the nation’s teaching population.

Consider this...

• TheNationalTeacheroftheYearin2010,2007,2006,2003,2001and1997

• One-thirdofthe2010StateTeachersoftheYear

• Eightypercentofthe2010honoreesintheNationalTeachersHallofFame,an award endorsed by every major professional education organization

• Morethanone-thirdoftherecipientsofPresidentialAwardsforExcellenceinMathematics and Science Teaching, the nation’s highest honor for teachers of mathematics and science

• WinnersofnumeroushighlyrespectednationalteachingawardssuchastheDisney TeacherAwardsandtheMilkenFamilyFoundationNationalEducatorAwards

…are all National Board Certified Teachers.

Why Should You Support National Board Certification?Students benefit • NationalBoardCertificationimprovesstudentlearningandachievement.StudentsofNationalBoardCertifiedTeachersmakehighergainsonachievement tests than students taught by non-board-certified teachers, according to the National Research Council in a congressionally- mandated report.

• NationalBoardCertifiedTeachershaveproventhattheyknowtheir subject matter and can successfully teach it.

• NationalBoardCertifiedTeachershelpstudentsfindrelevancein learning and engage them in the learning process.

• NationalBoardCertifiedTeachersproducestudentswhoare stronger writers and comprehend classroom material better than students of non-certified teachers.

Schools benefit

• NationalBoardCertifiedTeachersregularlyleadeffortstocreate closer ties among schools and students, families and communities.

• NationalBoardCertifiedTeachersplayacriticalroleinmentoring new teachers and helping struggling ones improve.

• NationalBoardCertifiedTeachersarefrequentlyaskedtoshare theirexpertisewithpolicymakersandotherstakeholders.

• NationalBoardCertifiedTeacherstendtostayintheprofession longer than non-certified teachers.

Our nation benefits

• NationalBoardCertificationischangingthecultureoflearning in classrooms, schools and districts by leveraging National Board Certified Teachers to build human capital, especially in high-need schools.

• MorethanhalfofallNationalBoardCertifiedTeachersteach in Title I eligible schools as reported by the National Center for Education Statistics.

• NationalBoardCertifiedTeachersofferstudentstheskills necessarytothriveinschoolandintheworkplace— essential factors for our nation’s success in the 21st century global economy.

• NationalBoardCertificationprovidesvaluableincentives tokeepourmostaccomplishedteachersintheclassroom.

National Teacher of the Year Recipients

“National Board Certification was instrumentalinmyexperienceandgrowth

as a professional educator. The process requires teachers to see students

as individuals and discover how they learn. Knowing how a student learns

is irreplaceable.”

— Sarah Brown Wessling, NBCT 2010 National Teacher of the Year

“The National Board process revolutionizes a teacher’s instructional methodstomaketheteacheramore

vital, effective and committed educator. It is due to this belief that I will continue

in the role of mentor and recruiter for National Board Certification.”

— Andrea Peterson, NBCT 2007 National Teacher of the Year

“The National Board Certification process was a powerful and worthwhile professionalexperience.Itdrastically

refined my practice as an educator. Itchangedmythinkingaboutcurriculum.”

— Kimberly Oliver Burnim, NBCT 2006 National Teacher of the Year

For more information about how to support National Board Certification in states,

communities and schools, visit the NBPTS Web site at www.nbpts.org or call

1-800-22TEACH.

Other National Board Certified Teachers honored as National Teachers of the Year were Betsy Rogers (2003), Michele Forman (2001)

and Sharon Draper (1997).

What Is National Board Certification®? National Board Certification is a voluntary assessment program designed to identify great teachers — and make them better. While state licensing systems set basic requirements to teach in each state, National Board Certified Teachers have successfully demonstrated advanced teaching knowledge, skills and practices.

• NationalBoardCertificationisagrowingeducationreformmovementthatis transformingschoolsandmakingteachersmoreeffective.

• Likeboard-certifieddoctorsandaccountants,teacherswhoachieveNational BoardCertificationhavemetadvancedstandardsthroughintensivestudy,expertevaluation, self-assessment and peer review.

• NationalBoardCertificationisamodelofpay-for-performancethatissupportedbyteachersandadministratorsnationwide.Moststatesprovidesalaryincentivesorcover the costs for teachers who pursue and/or achieve this advanced credential.

• Certificationtakesonetothreeyearstoachieveandisavailablenationwide. Twenty-five certificates are available for a variety of developmental levels and subjects—includingliteracy,English,math,scienceandhealtheducation. Theprocessincludesassessmentofsubjectknowledge,submissionsofvideo recordingsofclassroominstructionandexamplesofstudentwork.

• About40percentofcandidatesachievecertificationthefirstyear;about 65percentdosobytheendofthethree-yearcycle.

• All50states,theDistrictofColumbiaandmorethan700schooldistricts recognizeNationalBoardCertificationasamarkofdistinction.

• BroadsupportforNationalBoardCertificationcomesfromthefederalgovernment,DemocraticandRepublicangovernorsandlegislators,stateandlocalgovernmentsand school boards, the nation’s two largest teacher unions, higher education, education organizations and classroom teachers.

Consider this...

Schools benefit

Our nation benefits

1-800-22TEACH.

Consider this...

Schools benefit

Our nation benefits

1-800-22TEACH.

Cover & interior middle photo credit: Terry Ashe

Every child deserves a great teacher…

National Board Certified TeachersBetter Teaching, Better Learning, Better Schools

Who Supports National Board Certification?

Policymakers“Teachers who achieved National Board Certification have demonstrated a commitment to taking their teaching practice and the teaching profession to a different level....What if every child had a chance to be taught by a National Board Certified Teacher? I think the difference it would make in students’ lives would be extraordinary.... As we move forward on this turnaround agenda nationally, I would love for National Board Certified Teachers to be at the forefront of that movement.” — Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education

“Teachers in Mississippi tell me that the process of becoming board certified renews their enthusiasm for teaching, improves their performance in the classroom and helps raise the achievement levels of their students.” — U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.)

“Achieving National Board Certification is an example of teachers showing a special dedication to their students, their fellow teachers and their schools. I am proud to support National Board Certification.”— U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.)

“National Board Certification is one of the most significant education reforms in recent years, and it has provided a way for policymakers to recognize and reward accom-plished teaching.” — U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.)

“In classrooms, our hard-working, committed teachers are focused on improving student and teacher performance. In 2009, almost 1,250 teachers received the prestigious National Board Certification, ...in part because of the investments we put in place.” — Gov. Chris Gregoire (D-Wash.)

Business Leaders“As increasing numbers of teachers achieve National Board Certification, more students will experience how a highly qualified teacher can influence their learning and impact the quality of education across this country.” — Edward B. Rust Jr., Chairman and CEO, State Farm Insurance Companies®

“National Board Certification is one of the best investments states, school systems and business communities can make. It develops instructional leaders who can provide mentoring, curriculum support and professional development for other teachers to support school improvement efforts.” — Bill Shore, Director, U.S. Community Partnerships, GlaxoSmithKline

Education Officials“National Board Certification is one of the most significant education reforms in recent years. Those who attain National Board Certification are strengthening the teaching profession across the country.” — Gene Wilhoit, Executive Director, Council of Chief State School Officers

“As a former superintendent of schools in Fairfax County, Va., I have seen first-hand that National Board Certified Teachers make a difference in the classroom when it comes to student achievement. Teachers who achieve National Board Certification not only have a positive effect on students but other members of the instructional staff.” — Daniel A. Domenech, Executive Director, American Association of School Administrators

“Teachers who go through the National Board Certification process become a school district’s best change agents to raise the level of classroom instruction which results in greater student achievement.” — Anne L. Bryant, Executive Director, National School Boards Association

“National Board Certification equips teachers not only to provide a high quality, rigorous education to their students, but also to work collaboratively with parents and caregivers to create strong family-school partnerships that support academic achievement.” — Charles J. “Chuck” Saylors, President, National PTA

Remember the Best Teacher You Ever Had?National Board Certified Teachers are among the nation’s most effective

teachers who have demonstrated that they meet the highest teaching standards. National Board Certification is a growing education reform

movement with numbers that have more than doubled in the past five years.

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards National Board Certification is administered by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards® (NBPTS), an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan and non-governmental organization. NBPTS advances the quality of teaching and learning by developing professional standards for accomplished teaching, creating a voluntary system to certify teachers who meet those standards and integrating certified teachers into educational reform efforts.

© 2010 National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. All rights reserved. NBPTS, NBCT, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, National Board Certified Teacher, National Board Certification , Take One!, Accomplished Teacher and 1-800-22TEACH are registered trademarks or service marks of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Other marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective organizations.

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, Inc. has been funded, in part, with grants from the U.S. Department of Education and the National Science Foundation. Through September 2009, NBPTS has been appropriated federal funds of $188 million, of which $168.7 million was expended. Such amount represents approximately 30 percent of the National Board’s total cumulative costs. Approximately $398.1 million (70 percent) of the National Board’s costs were financed by non-federal sources. The contents of this publication were developed in whole or in part under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government.

NBPTS®

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

National Office1525 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 500Arlington, VA 22209www.nbpts.org | 1-800-22TEACH

Summer 2010