Crunch Time for National Board Certification

In two days, National Board Certification portfolio boxes need to be mailed out to a weird address in San Antonio. As a first-time candidate, I can’t wait to send this thing away, but I must say that putting it together has been the best professional development experience of my teaching career.

 
I got through my first four years teaching in both public and independent schools before I had ever even heard of National Board Certification. At my current charter school in DC, I leapt at the opportunity for a subsidized (it costs $2,500) application for this prestigious distinction.

What’s involved? A portfolio containing about 60 pages of written analysis and reflection on my craft, 2 videos of me leading whole-class discussion and small-group activities, 8 examples of my students’ work, 16 pages of artifacts testifying to my impact on student learning and my continuing work as a leader, learner, and collaborator with students’ families. It’s a beast— not to mention the 6 essay tests that come later. Yet the delineated standards by NBPTS (National Board for Professional Teaching Standards) that guide my portfolio entries offer the clearest vision for what accomplished teaching in my content area (English Language Arts – Adolescentce and Young Adult) looks like. This makes Teach Like a Champion look like child’s play.

Whether or not I score highly enough to earn the title of “National Board Certified Teacher”— candidates have to wait until November to find out— it’s definitely made me a better educator. I’ve investigated and interrogated every element of my craft and found ways to improve.

National Board Certification bonuses are on (or were) on the chopping block around the country. I think this is exactly the kind of professional development that needs to be incentivized, not cut. We spend zillions on professional development, much of it on one-time “drive-by” workshops, but this gets real bang for the buck.

Have you applied National Board Certification? Do you think it’s the best PD you’ve experienced?

Comments

[Stephen Lazar]

Not sure I'd call it the best I've ever done, but it was definitely a very worthwhile experience (better PD's: Facing History workshop and the ones I've been co-leading this year, at least for myself). More than anything, it forced me to think about teaching history, as opposed to just teaching in general.

The wait is killer though. I got the news on the ferry to Ellis Island, surrounded by my students. It was a great moment. Hope you get the same this fall.

[Nance Killion]

I sent my "box" off today. Yes, it was the best professional development I have ever participated in. It's unfortunate that most of those making the decisions in education fail to understand what is involved.

[Mrs. B]

I am a better educator because of this process. It took me a couple of tries....but each try improved my practice along the way!

[Carolyn Filzer]

Definitely the best thing I've done for improving my teaching...