I went to the National Board Certification Pre-Application sponsored by George Washington University last Wednesday. I met a good number of eager colleagues who are also planning to go through this rigorous process in the fall of this year.
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is the highest symbol of professional teaching excellence. The rewards go far beyond the financial incentives now offered by many states and school districts. It attests to the fact that you have been judged by your peers as one who is accomplished in your field.
A few days ago, I came across this news:
Some question value of national certification
Recent studies show students of nationally certified teachers don't necessarily score higher on tests than peers whose teachers lack the credential. While the research has prompted debate over whether states should be rewarding teachers who pursue the designation, many educators say just going through the application process has helped their performance in the classroom. Daily Press (Newport News/Hampton, Va.) (7/10)
I believe that I am doing the right thing to maximize my students' potentials, and I want to validate that. I want to join the team of the most successful teachers too. These are the main reasons why I am decided to take the National Board Certification this fall, whatever issues people make about it. So help me God.
*** Please see the right sidebar here for more of my National Board Certification candidacy chronicles.
3 comments:
I feel that going through the process makes you as a teacher. You can look at your practice and distinguish what is good about it or look at what you can improve.
Upon further investigation, you would discover that the school in which the study was conducted had 65% National Board Teachers. Therefore, all students in the school had, at some time, been taught by an NBCT, plus the atmosphere of the school is deeply affected by the teaching of those certified teachers. Therefore, it is truly difficult to separate the influences of certified and non-certified teachers. Not all studies are created equal!
After going through the process, the possibility to have this kind of discourse on a regular basis, becomes a necessity. A nurturing environment where to grow professionally and develop our skills and talents as teachers and individuals, become essential to improve our students' achievement. Generally, we are not used to reflect on our successes or failures, to justify our choices, and systematically modify our practice based on evidence collected. For me, this is what the NB help you to achieve.
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