Washington state can now welcome 919 new NBCTs to its education system. My heartfelt congratulations to each NBCT. I know what it was like to go through the process and I know the optimism for education that you are feeling now.
My heartfelt thanks to policy makers who have supported the process of NBPTS with Washington's incentives and support. You are a state in a class of its own. People are noticing the strength of the state's process, NBPTS is noticing.
My heartfelt thanks to organizations both private and state who have made the process of NBPTS more attainable for candidates with their support and dedication. The list is long.
Across the nation, "more than 9,600 teachers achieved National Board Certification–bringing the total number of the nation's top teachers to nearly 74,000."
The impact of these teachers on the learning of their students is huge.
A whole new world opens up for NBCTs. There is a sense of confidence, even validation for the strength that one possesses in the art and science of teaching. I have two questions for NBCTs.
(1) How will National Board Certification affect your classroom/school/district/state?
(2) What is your next step now that you are certified (any leadership thoughts)?
To every candidate, thank you for making the education system of Washington a leader. You will make a difference in our student's learning. If you have a specific group, organization, or person out there who deserves thanks, take this opportunity to thank them and send them a link to this post.
01.09.09: Update, Washington has 2727 NBCTs! Way to go gang.
@Cathy, yep, a little over a month and by gaining that certification to acknowledge the great teaching that you already do, you have the assessment of your craft to show the world. In that bit over a month you have reflected on your craft. That is grand. Thanks for the comment. I appreciate the thoughts for others to read.
How does NBC affect me/my school/district/state? I think, prior to certification, when I heard about mission statements and philosophy I felt it was a bunch of fal-de-rah….NOW that I teach/counsel backwards by design….everything I do ,whether it is curriculum based, part of individual or group counseling, or related to working with staff through the school improvement process—it ALWAYS is tied to my end outcome of producing independent, problem solvers who understand their strengths and know how to use them to find success and happiness in life and a career path. I abandon any practice that doesn’t help contribute to that outcome.
What’s next? Sharing what I’ve learned and getting others to reflect upon their teaching and questioning WHY they do what they do…..but only to those who ask and want to learn. Beyond that, I don’t know…. it’s only been a little over a month so it’s really just sinking in that it’s real.
New article from the Columbian newspaper (southwest Washington) on NBCTs.
http://www.columbian.com/article/20081222/OPINION02/712229942
Since the original post, we now can count another WA State NBCT among the new 2008 NBCTs. Since score clean-up after the original score release on November 21st, we now have a grand total of 920 2008 NBCTs bringing the grand total to 2727!
There is a lot of data rolling around in my head, like:
454 (17%) of all our NBCTs teach in a “challenging school”
or
There were only 3 districts west of the Mississippi in the top 20 of new NBCTs and 2 were in Washington. Seattle and Bellevue!
or
728 (26.6%)of our 2727 NBCTs teach math, science, ELL or special education.
All of these numbers represent the power of the state program. However, there is something more important under all this data that we must let rise to the surface …the voices of the classroom NBCTs. Please tell every NBCT to tell their story. School board members, legislators, parents and the business community all need to hear these accomplished teachers discuss the impact of their NB journey on the whole reason we got into this work in the first place…our kids.
@Luann, ohhhhh you touched on a subject of great currentness–renewal and how the process of NBPTS is so powerful that teachers would renew. I am aware of several colleagues who are going through that renewal process right now. Congratulations to you the first, and second time, and for all you do for our students. You have filled me with hope. I too, plan on going through renewal. Did renewal bring up anything new in your teaching for you?
It’s been 10 years for me….. different administrations recognize and allow different levels of NBCTness. Most do not truly understand what it means to be a NBCT. Some do not even acknowledge their lack of understanding and view the process as a self-sought “award” for financial gain. What these people can’t touch is the impact onour own classrooms. They can’t watch through our eyes as children grow and achieve with our facilitation. They don’t see that our work makes a difference – sometimes all they see are higher test scores and don’t correlate even that.
Renewal was huge, for me. It was an affirmation that I can still teach and that I’ve grown, through a carefully-chosen sequence of work that I wil continue based on the renewal rubric. I take risks in my classroom because I know my students and have a finely-tuned sense of the best thing for each one, at this time, in this setting. I have the bag of resources and the skills to access what each student needs. I understand the unwillingness of some administrators to work with us, and I’m not afraid to politely stand up to them. Renewal for me was truly a renewal and a reminder that I too can still grow and learn and strive to do the best I can for my students.
@Nova Jones, you can look into candidate facilitation as a way to start your help of others through the process. For many, as Deb mentioned, the reflective piece is so powerful. Facilitators can help candidates reflect on their practices even if you are discussing a lesson with a colleague-candidate.
@Deb Ortner…it really is a great feeling. I felt the same way, that sense of rejuvenation that brought back why I love education so much. Giving back to the process of NBPTS is a great way to continue the power you feel now. I know that some of my greatest hours are filled when I listen to candidates talk about instruction and strategies. Teaching really is more than handing out papers. You know that. I know that. I hope others can believe it.
Does anyone else feel the hunger for education of which Deb speaks?
I have been chasing this blog for a few days now and now that I have finally found it I’m not sure that I can remember what I wanted to say. I know I want to thank Travis (I so admire you) and the entire WSUV team that helped/guided me through the process. I certified in EMC/Lit. It has been a long time since I felt proud of myself. I began the process because I LOVE my job and I wanted to know how to become better at what I do. I also had been in a bit of a hole and felt that if I could accomplish this monumental task, I would return to the person I was before I fell in the hole. Well, I am not that person and never will be again because of the power of the NBPTS process. I am more reflective (I wish I had even more time to just think about what we did or talk to someone about what I taught that day and why I taught it) and therefore I believe a more effective teacher. I am absolutely hungry for more knowledge about how I can help my kindergarteners see themselves as the most important part of their education. I want them to know they are writers and how that gives them power. I want them to know that they can read and in doing so THINK! I want them to think about the world around them in a new and different way knowing that they are a part of something bigger than our classroom, school, and local community. I hope they know that they can change the world – even in kindergarten. I am extremely interested in continuing my involvement in the NBPTS process. I hope to become a facilitator and do for another teacher what the team did for me. I want to stand up as a leader in learning, growing and furthering education. NB has given me the confidence to believe that my thoughts about education might matter to someone else. I have never blogged before so I am going to stop now out of fear of “doing it right.” I am so proud of my certification and I hope to lead others to and eventually through the process.
Wow! What a great feeling to read the sentiments above. Certifying was a long and hard process, but gave a triumphant feeling knowing that my practices not only met standard, but are now officially recognized.
Continuing to use the pedagogy featured in my portfolio will highlight my efforts as I work to improve my classroom and District. The opportunities for sharing ideas and learning from others (NBCT link) will enrich this process.
My intent for the future is help other along the way in their certification so that they may learn their full potential as educators. Equally, using new and exciting ideas, learned from others, in my classroom will help to provide the best educational experience for my students.
Here are some more stats and numbers, facts and figures, stuff and things regarding this year’s NBCTs:
http://www.k12.wa.us/Communications/pressreleases2008/NationalBoardCertTeachers.aspx
Celia, I’m glad you found the blog, and thank you for your thoughtful comments. I’m sure others can relate to the lows (what if…?) and highs (rejuvenation!) that you articulate about the impact of the process. I know I can…even though my certification was eight years ago it seems like yesterday.
Any next steps in mind?
In response to the first question: How will NB Cert affect your classroom/school/district/state… I have already felt a change in my classroom. Through the process of NBPTS I worked with a WSU group, twice a month. We reflected on our teaching in ways I hadn’t yet experienced. I was able to become more intentional, purposeful and reflected than I thought possible. Holding on to the lessons I learned from those gatherings has helped me stay focused in what often times is a whirlwind of children, documentation, tests, administrative initiatives, meeting after meeting etc. …and always with the lingering worry of (what if I didn’t pass???) Now that I have, I find myself rejuvenated in a way I, honestly, didn’t realize I needed… I have become even more daring in my teaching, testing the waters of the myriad ways in which student’s can learn and how to encourage the realization that students can and should own their education. I find myself challenging the students to challenge me and we are all discovering new and unexplored paths of learning as a result.