In schools across the US, the days and weeks leading up to Thanksgiving is special. Yes – there’s a long weekend ahead. It’s also notification time for teachers who have undertaken the National Board Certification (NBC) process.
This fall, 48 WCPSS teachers received notification that they had achieved National Board Certification. They joined over 2,450 other WCPSS teacher to have earned the “gold standard” in teaching. Another 100 WCPSS teachers successfully renewed their certification. In total, there are 2,509 NBC teachers in WCPSS.
For the past ten years, WCPSS has lead the nation in the number of teachers who have earned National Board Certification. This is a proud designation for our district, the fifteenth largest school district in the country.
Pursuing National Board Certification is a rigorous process that requires on average 200-400 hours of effort. Teachers complete three written portfolio entries and complete a test of content knowledge at an assessment center (four separate portions). The written portfolio entries require teachers to analyze student work, their classroom instruction (video submission required), and their professional lives as they lead and collaborate with their peers. The process is intensive, reflective, and thorough.
Ultimately, every entry and assessment is guided by five core propositions about teaching.
- One: Teachers are committed to students and their learning.
- Two: Teachers know the subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to students.
- Three: Teachers are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning.
- Four: Teachers think systematically about their practice and learn from experience.
- Five: Teachers are members of learning communities.
Oh. And did we mention that the process is completed while teachers are working full-time in classrooms?
WakeEd is proud to support WCPSS and the largest cadre of NBC teachers in the United States.
We knew you’d be proud to know about their accomplishments too.