National Board Certification: 117 more earn teaching's gold standard

ALBANY, N.Y. December 16, 2009 - New York State United Teachers cheered the accomplishments of 117 New York teachers, including more than a dozen from the Capital Region, who today earned what is widely considered to be the "gold standard" for teaching excellence: certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

The 117 new nationally certified teachers brings to 999 - of more than 235,000 statewide - the number of New York teachers who have demonstrated, through extensive testing; portfolios; videotapes of their teaching; and highly detailed, reflective writing that they can - and should - be considered "master teachers." 

See also: NYSUT's National Board Certification Resources

"New York is widely known for the skill, dedication and professionalism of its teaching force. The 117 teachers we honor today are standard bearers for teaching excellence," said NYSUT President Richard C. Iannuzzi. "By voluntarily taking on this enormous challenge, and demonstrating their knowledge and ability to help students learn, they are rightly being recognized as the 'best of the best' and we congratulate them."

NYSUT Vice President Maria Neira, who unveiled the national board's Class of 2009 at a news conference at the Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School in Albany, said nationally certified teachers help to improve student achievement. Studies show that, on average, students of board-certified teachers experience learning gains equal to an extra month in class, with an even greater impact on low-income students.

"These highly skilled teachers represent all their colleagues, past and present, who have achieved our profession's highest standard," Neira said.  "Quality teaching, which includes collaboration between teachers and partnerships with administrators and the community, is essential to ending the achievement gap. In Albany, Schenectady and other school districts, nationally certified teachers are leaders in helping to spread 'best practice' and improve on the already high level of teaching taking place in our classrooms."

New York Education Commissioner David Steiner noted that, "Teachers certified through the National Board receive rigorous training, and the results are evident in the classroom.  And that's important because we know that nothing matters more to the educational opportunities of students than the caliber of their teachers." Steiner said that he and the Board of Regents support National Board Certification "as a way to ensure that teachers get the very complex skills they need to succeed in our demanding classrooms."

Neira, a board member of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, said National Board candidates spend between 200-400 hours of their own time having their teaching measured against high and rigorous standards through an extensive series of performance-based assessments.  These assessments include teaching portfolios, student work samples, videotapes or DVDs and thorough analyses of the candidate's teaching and students' learning.  The process involves written exercises that probe the depth of a candidate's subject matter knowledge, as well as his or her understanding of how to teach those subjects.

Neira noted that only half of all candidates for national certification pass on their first try, but just the attempt is a powerful professional development experience.

Neira said the Albany Public School Teachers Association, led by Cathy Corbo, and the school district negotiated a $3,000 stipend to be paid to all nationally certified teachers.  Similar incentives for national certification exist in about 180 school districts statewide.

In addition, many districts provide release time for candidates to work toward national certification. NYSUT assists National Board candidates by offering awareness programs, support and advice through on-line discussion forums, conferences and professional development through its Education & Learning Trust. The union works with teacher centers to support candidates through the challenging board-certification process.

"School districts that recognize the value of having nationally certified teachers are beginning to reap the benefits," Neira said. "We are starting to see concentrations of nationally certified teachers in Albany, Schenectady and other places that offer local incentives. The end result is that these districts are seeing increased success in their efforts to raise student achievement."

NYSUT, the state's largest union, represents more than 600,000 teachers, school-related professionals, academic and professional faculty in higher education, professionals in education and health care and retirees.  NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.

For more information, visit www.nysut.org/nbpts and www.nbpts.org.

2009 National Board Certified Teachers

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