Michigan Teacher of the Year June Teisan is one of 13 NBCTs to be honored as their state’s top teacher.
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Board Certification High Point for Florida Education
“Good managers know it makes good business sense to reward your highest-performing employees, those who keep an organization moving forward and bring others along with them … It has been a high point in Florida’s education reform for teachers to obtain national certification.”
Editorial
Tampa Tribune
April 22, 2008
Welcome to NewsLink
This new online newsletter is designed to provide the latest information about the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), events and issues surrounding the organization, and most importantly, the teachers who have achieved National Board Certification®.
In addition to our new look and format, we are also announcing a new interactive feature "NBCT CommunityLink" to help us better meet the needs and interests of our National Board Certified Teacher constituents.
Joseph A. Aguerrebere
NBPTS President and CEO
NBPTS Nationwide
More Than One-third of 2007 Presidential Awardees for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching Are NBCTs
NBCTs continue to receive the country’s top teaching awards. More than one-third of the 2007 Presidential Awardees for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching went to teachers who achieved National Board Certification®. The awards are administered by the National Science Foundation. Each award recipient will receive a $10,000 educational grant to be used at his or her discretion.
National Board Certification is Key to Developing “World-Class Cadre of Skilled Educators,” Nation at Risk Anniversary Report Says
National Board Certification is a means to developing a “world-class cadre of skilled educators,” and needs to be a federal priority, according to a report released on April 23, 2008, by The Forum for Education and Democracy. The report, Democracy at Risk: The Need for a New Federal Policy in Education, was written by prominent educators and policy experts who have launched effective alternative schools, charter schools and school improvement networks. It notes that the United States’ education system and democracy are even more at risk than at the release of A Nation at Risk, 25 years ago.
Papers Available on the Future of NBPTS
A series of papers written about the future of NBPTS® describe the impact of National Board Certification and how the expansion of this teacher quality initiative reaches well beyond the current number of NBCTs. Contributing authors included Barnett Berry, president and CEO, Center for Teaching Quality; Daniel Domenech, senior vice president, McGraw Hill Education, Karen King, associate professor of mathematics education, New York University; and, Amy Roth McDuffie, associate professor, department of teaching and learning, Washington State University. This material is based on observations made by education leaders, scholars, policymakers and NBCTs from the conference, 20/20: Clarifying a Vision for Quality Teaching, held in Racine, Wis. last fall. The conference was convened by NBPTS and the Johnson Foundation in honor of the National Board’s 20th anniversary.
State Farm, NBPTS Announce Grants to Strengthen Teaching and Learning in Texas and Southern Illinois Schools
The State Farm Companies Foundation and NBPTS have partnered to strengthen Texas and Southern Illinois schools by improving the quality of teaching and student learning. State Farm has targeted funding to recruit and support teachers seeking National Board Certification.
NBPTS Launches Teacher Appreciation Week PSAs
To celebrate National Teacher Day (May 6) and Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4-10), NBPTS distributed a series of public service announcements (PSAs) to radio stations across the country offering parents crucial advice on how to “help teachers help your kids” by getting involved. National and local media outlets carried the PSAs, including NBC-TV, Bloomberg syndicated radio, Reuters, Roll Call and the Voice of America. One of the PSAs was submitted by NBCT Sheila Kohl, a sixth grade teacher at West De Pere Middle School in De Pere, Wis.
NBPTS to Serve as Sponsor at NSDC Summer Conference
NBPTS will serve as a sponsor at the National School Development Council’s Summer Conference, July 13-16, 2008, in Orlando, Fla. More than 100 sessions will be led by teacher leaders. All keynote speakers are practitioners, and all sessions are full or half-day for in-depth learning.
NBPTS Releases Take One! Video Package
More and more educators are focusing on new ways to transform their teaching practices through Take One!® NBPTS recently released a video package offering insight into this standards-based professional development opportunity. The package contains a DVD highlighting schools throughout the country that have enrolled in Take One!, as well as testimonials from principals about the impact it is making on students and faculty. The package also contains a set of guidelines on presenting the video to selected educator audiences, such as principals and teachers, and a list of frequently asked questions and answers about the Take One! process. To receive a package, contact Celeste Bagley.
NBCTLink Wins National Award
The Society of National Association Publications (SNAP) has recognized NBCTLink with a 2008 EXCEL Award for online publishing. This annual competition recognizes and rewards the exemplary work of association publishers. The program judges over a thousand magazines, newsletters, scholarly journals, electronic publications and Web sites in the areas of editorial quality, design, general excellence, most improved and more. The awards ceremony is scheduled for June 10, 2008, at the EXCEL Awards Gala in Washington, D.C.
NBCT CommunityLink
What's New in NBCTLink?
Have you visited NBCTLink, lately? This month NBPTS announced registration for the NBPTS Policy Leadership Forum, and highlighted NBCTs who were selected as state teachers of the year.
Don't miss out -- log in to NBCTLink today!
U.S. Dept. of Education Teacher-to-Teacher Summer Workshops
Registration for professional development workshops, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, is underway. “Teacher-to-Teacher” workshops offer educators a free opportunity to participate in high-quality professional development designed to provide classroom support, technical assistance, and the increased collaboration needed to ensure academic success for all students.
Policy Watch
Florida Bonuses for Achieving National Board Certification Remain
The Florida legislature maintained its commitment to National Board Certification by enacting legislation that retains the bonus structure for NBCTs. However, the legislation cuts funding for other parts of the program. During the legislative deliberations, NBPTS collaborated with many supporters, friends and NBCTs to rally in support of the program. Extensive outreach to the press also resulted in positive coverage of Florida’s National Board program.
A Victory for NBCTs in Colorado
Current and future NBCTs in Colorado, as well as candidates for National Board Certification can claim a victory in the state. Legislators in the House and Senate have affirmed their support for teaching excellence throughout Colorado schools, and in particular, the state’s high-need schools.
Voices from the Field
Chicago: National Board Certification Receives Praise from Chicago Public Schools Chief
Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan, a strong proponent of National Board Certification, said the following during a discussion about teacher quality during last month’s Education Writers Association’s (EWA) national seminar: “Talent matters. You can have great school buildings but if you don’t have the talent in them, children aren’t going to learn. The public talks about the achievement gap. We need to start talking more about the talent gap. How do we get the best and brightest in our schools, especially inner-city schools? I’m a huge fan of National Board Certification. The teachers benefit, principals benefit, custodians benefit.” The seminar, held in Chicago, attracted local and national education leaders as well as education reporters from small, medium and large markets across the country.
Arizona: Take One! Takes Off in Arizona
The Arizona K–12 Center highlights Take One! in the May edition of its monthly newsletter. “Seeing what I needed to improve on was a big eye-opener for me. Now, I’m not just talking to students but giving them the tools they need to learn,” said teacher Sharon Deswood, a Take One! candidate, who was interviewed for the story.