Earning Top Certification in Teaching with the National Boards

Every doctor wants to become Nationally Board Certified. Every coach wants to achieve the highest national coaching certification available in a specific sport. And every teacher should want to challenge themselves to be the best practitioner possible by attaining National Board certification.


The process to National Boards is a long, arduous, and stressful one that often results in failure. Teachers who seem to be masters of their craft are denied this certification all the time, while other seemingly ordinary, mediocre teachers are awarded with this distinction. There is no magic formula for guaranteed NB certification, but I imagine that just going through the whole process can only be informative and beneficial to any teacher looking to become a master in the classroom.


While I have not yet gone through the NB process, I know plenty of colleagues who have, some of whom were widely successful the first time, others who had to reapply with a few changes, and still more who were denied certification and didn't pursue it further. Each of these teachers has one genuine desire in common -- to improve their classroom practices and be more critically reflective for the end goal of better teaching and learning for their students.


I have way too much on my plate right now to consider becoming NB, but it is an idea I entertain and think about quite often. For those of you who teach and want to push your practice to the next level, applying for NB can be a very worthwhile and meaningful experience. I am including some information below on how to get started:

Interested in Measuring Your Practice Against High and Rigorous Standards?   



The George Washington University's Graduate School of Education and Human Development (GW-GSEHD), the 11th ranked private education school in the country, provides a unique opportunity for teachers and counselors to do just that and earn a 15 credit graduate certificate in Professional Teaching Standards. 

Choose to strengthen your practice by participating in the graduate coursework offered.  

The Graduate Certificate in Professional Teaching Standards is a 15-credit program designed to cultivate leadership skills and provide professional development for practicing teachers and counselors based upon the vision of accomplished teaching as described in the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards’ (NBPTS) document What Teachers Should Know and Be Able To Do (1999).  



The NBPTS® improves teaching and student learning. National Board Certified Teachers® are highly accomplished educators who meet high and rigorous standards.  Like board-certified doctors and accountants, teachers and counselors who achieve National Board Certification have met rigorous standards through intensive study, expert evaluation, self-assessment and peer review.   



GW-GSEHD is currently accepting applications for Cohort 6. 

Coursework begins in January 2011 and finishes in spring 2012.  

Information meetings scheduled December 2nd and 9th from 4:30 – 5:30 at the MCEA Conference Center,
12 Taft Court,
Rockville, MD 20850  



RSVP to GCPTS@gwu.edu



Questions?  Contact Meghna Lipcon, NBCT – mlipcon@gwu.edu



www.gsehd.gwu.edu/professional+teaching+standards   

 


Thanks in advance for sharing this information with your colleagues!   Please do not hesitate to get in touch with Meghna (mlipcon@gwu.edu) or Christine Frank (frankc@gwu.edu) should you have any questions!  

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Good luck!!!