Neira to represent 'gold standard' of teaching
Maria Neira meets 2005 National Board Certified Teachers from Plattsburgh TA. From left are Neira, Elizabeth Luscombe, Kate Messner and Marjorie Light. Photo by Jon Richard Flemming.
NYSUT Vice President Maria Neira was recently elected to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
"This is not only a great honor, it's a great challenge," Neira said. She will serve a three-year term on the board.
The NBPTS awards the prestigious National Board Certification credential. Nearly 50,000 teachers nationwide have successfully completed the rigorous process for National Board Certification - including more than 580 in New York state. The NBPTS offers 10-year certificates in 27 areas.
National certification is a voluntary process developed by teachers building on a concept conceived 30 years ago by the late Al Shanker, a NYSUT founder and former president of the American Federation of Teachers.
Candidates spend 200 to 400 hours evaluating their teaching, completing several written exercises. The process involves reflection, challenging teachers to rethink their roles and what they teach their students.
"I am dedicated to helping teachers find the resources they need to pursue this prestigious certification," Neira said. "It's no secret that quality educators lead to quality schools."
Neira, a former elementary bilingual teacher and a nationally recognized expert on educational issues, said a state incentive to encourage more teachers to tackle national certification is a smart investment for New York "to help drive our goal to close the achievement gap."
"On average, students of board-certified teachers experience learning gains equal to an extra month in class," Neira noted. "The impact is even greater on lower-income students."New York state offers the Albert Shanker and Candidate Subsidy Grant programs. Other states that offer stipends have more board-certified teachers than New York. In some districts in New York, NYSUT locals have collectively bargained incentives for individuals who achieve the certification.
For more information on National Board Certification, visit www.nbpts.org. For information on NYSUT resources and support for national board candidates, visit www.nysut.org.