Why Teachers Should Consider National Board Certification

If you’re up for a rewarding challenge, why not consider National Board Certification? Not only is it a rigorous professional development experience for teachers, but it’s also an extremely rewarding honor. “National Board Certified (NBC) teachers are examples of what it means to be accomplished teachers and serve as role models in strengthening the teaching profession,” explained Mary Kay Wilson, Staff Assistant in the Human Resources Department and the District’s liaison with the Dale Hickam Excellent Teaching Program. “We currently have 280 NBC teachers and another 400 or so candidates are awaiting results scheduled to be released in November.” While that may sound like a lot, it really isn’t when you consider that the District has more than 15,500 teachers.

Statewide, 3,489 educators have received this distinction, giving Florida a second-place ranking next to North Carolina. In total, there are some 23,930 NBC educators in the United States. National Board Certification is a selective process. Not everyone who attempts it succeeds on the first try. “Nationally and in Broward County, as well, a little over 41% of first year applicants achieve certification,” said Ms. Wilson. Applicants can reapply if they fail to become certified on their first or second attempts.

National Board Certification is a symbol of teaching excellence. A voluntary process, it is achieved through a rigorous performance-based assessment that takes nearly a year to complete. Through this process, teachers
• document their deep knowledge of the subject matter they teach
• provide evidence that they know how to teach their subjects to students effectively and
•demonstrate their ability to manage and measure student learning

" National Board Certified teachers not only strengthen the teaching profession by serving as professional mentors, they also help our students achieve at higher academic levels," said Ms. Wilson.

The 411 on National Board Certification

Time Commitment Required
National Board Certification routinely takes about one year to complete

Assessment Components
The two major components are portfolio entries (completed at the teacher’s school) and assessment center exercises (written responses to demonstrate knowledge, skills and abilities).

Cost Involved
$2,300, however, through the Dale Hickam Excellent Teaching Program, the Florida Legislature pays 90% of this amount if you meet the following criteria:

• possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution
• have completed three years of successful teaching in grades PreK-12
• hold a valid state teaching license for each of those three years (or where not required, have taught in a school recognized and approved by the state)
• be a full-time classroom teacher, providing instruction to students (teaching at least 20 hours a week)
• document a satisfactory performance appraisal on the last regular annual performance evaluation from a Florida public K-12 school
• Pay 10% of the National Board application fee
• Agree to participate in the NBPTS certification program during the school year in which the subsidy is paid and sign the promissory note for fee repayment
• Agree to teach in a Florida public school the year immediately following completion of the certification process

Salary Compensations
The following two salary compensations are awarded to National Board Certified teachers during the 10-year life of the certificate:

1. An annual compensation equal to 10% of the prior year’s average statewide classroom teacher’s salary
2. An annual compensation equal to 10% of the prior year’s average statewide classroom teacher’s salary to teachers who provide 90 hours of mentoring services to any full-time classroom teacher in Florida who is not NBC

In Addition …
All Broward County National Board Certified Teachers will receive an annual salary supplement of $2,205 or 5% of his/her salary, whichever is greater, for the 10-year life of the certificate. There’s opportunity for five mentors to attend the annual NBPTS conference and for inservice points, as well.

If Board Certification Interests You …
Learn more about it at http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/hrd/nbpts/index.htm. You can also contact Mary Kay Wilson with questions at (954) 382-6272.

APPOINTMENTS/REASSIGNMENTS
The following appointments/reassignments were announced by the Board at meetings held between March 4, 2003 and May 20, 2003.

Appointments: Grace Grant-Brown, Director, ESE Financial Management; Thomas Keane, Building Inspector; Jose Sadin, Building Inspector; Jose Rodriguez, Chief Plans Examiner; Elizabeth Williams, Curriculum Specialist, Emotionally Handicapped; Laneia Hall, Interim Assistant Principal, Country Hills Elementary; Margaret Neely, Interim Assistant Principal, Piper High; Carlos Flores, Interim Assistant Principal, Cypress Bay High; Jean Darius, Coordinator, Diversity & Cultural Outreach; Linda Wetzel, Specialist, Employee Relations; Andrew Luciani, Principal, Attucks Middle; Frank Zagari, Interim Principal, Indian Ridge Middle; Ronald Forsman, Interim Principal, Rickards Middle; Janice Jones, Special Assignment, Manager Maintenance Stockroom & Warehouse; John Arcese, Supervisor I, Special Projects; Michelle Bryant-Wilcox, Coordinator, Minority/Women Business Enterprise; Kenneth Klink, Chief Operating Officer; Leontine Butler, Area Director, School Improvement; Rick Cunningham, Curriculum Specialist, School to Career; Chris Carney, Principal, Bennett Elementary; Dale Smith, Special Assignment, Principal, Crystal Lake Community Middle; David Johnson, Assistant Principal, GG Middle; Jill Fiorentino, Interim Assistant Principal, Indian Ridge Middle; Jonathan Leff, Interim Assistant Principal, Falcon Cove Middle; Camille Pontillo, Interim Principal, Park Springs Elementary; Shelly Isenberg, Interim Principal, Riverglades Elementary; Antonio Womack, Assistant Principal, Deerfield Beach High; Daniel McGrady, Facilities Engineer; Fredric Nagler, Architect V; Jody Rafkind, Coordinator, BECON Public Relations & Fund Raising; Carol Halka, Interim Assistant Principal, Perry Middle; Mokisha Spencer, Interim Assistant Principal, Miramar Elementary; Alison Trautmann, Interim Principal, Stranahan High; Jeffrey Wenhold, Interim Assistant Principal, Silver Lakes Middle; Jody Perry, Interim Principal, Driftwood Middle; Joanne Krisel, Interim Principal, Oakland Park Elementary.

Reassignments: William Hendricks, Assistant Principal, Monarch High; Rose Colon, Research Specialist; and Camille Edwards, Training Specialist, Management/Skills Development; Marco Caceres, Assistant Principal, Monarch High; Johnny Hardge, Assistant Principal, Northeast High.