ARLINGTON, Va. —January 11, 2018— As the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) celebrates 5,470 new National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) and another 3,957 Board-certified teachers who successfully renewed their certification, teachers at Bureau of Indian Education Affiliated Schools are joining the celebration. These teachers are part of a growing community of Board-certified teachers, now more than 118,000 strong across all 50 states. Each of these accomplished educators earned the profession’s highest mark of achievement through a rigorous, performance-based, peer-review process, demonstrating their proven impact on student learning and achievement.
In 2014, NBPTS and the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) began a partnership to increase accomplished teaching in the 183 BIE affiliated schools across 23 states. At that time, there were fewer than five Board-certified teachers working in BIE classrooms. During the recent score release, 23 teachers learned they had successfully completed the teaching profession’s most rigorous and highly regarded certification and became NBCTs. In addition to those who achieved certification, hundreds of other teachers at BIE funded schools successfully completed one or more of the four components required to achieve Board Certification and are continuing the process.
“This partnership is a powerful foundation for so much of the work being done to improve outcomes for Native American students” said Peggy Brookins, NBCT and president and CEO of the National Board. “Research clearly demonstrates that students of NBCTs learn more and the BIE is working to make sure that students within their system have access to this critical advantage.”
BIE teachers achieved Board-certified teacher status in AZ, CA, MI, MS, NC, NM, SD, WA, and WI this year.
The BIE has provided teachers and administrators within their system with professional development based on the National Board Standards and 5 Core Propositions. In addition, they have access to the NBPTS ATLAS video case library, which provides teachers in these mostly remote, rural schools with an opportunity to see what accomplished teaching looks like without having to travel for hours.
“The certification process helped me to become a more reflective and confident teacher,” said Tan-A Hoffman, NBCT at the Joseph K. Lumsden Bahweting Anishnabe School (JKL) in Michigan. “Our cohort of 25 teachers worked together towards certification and we’ve seen positive changes in our instruction and the opportunities for collaboration have helped us present lessons that keep the students engaged and excited about learning.”
“As an NBCT it is such a natural progression of my own certification to work to help other teachers earn their certification” said Sharla Steever, NBCT Learning Specialist at Technology and Innovation in Education (www.wolakotaproject.org) in South Dakota. She is one of many NBCTs who are providing support to teachers as they work through the rigorous process. “These teachers are committed to offering the best education to their students and Board certification helps them better prepare their Native American students to be leaders in their communities. Working with them enhances my own skills and knowledge”.
During the week of January 8, educators across the country are celebrating all Board-certified teachers with #TeamNBCT week. In the coming weeks, the new BIE affiliated NBCTs will be recognized at local celebrations across the country.
“National Board Certification is about helping teachers become great, it is about elevating the teaching profession, and it is about helping all children achieve at higher rates,” said Brookins. “The certification process impacts teaching and learning well beyond an individual teacher’s classroom and we are thrilled to continue this important partnership with BIE affiliated schools.”
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About the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (www.nbpts.org):
The founding mission of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is to advance the quality of teaching and learning by: (1) maintaining high and rigorous standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do; (2) providing a national voluntary system certifying teachers who meet these standards; and (3) advocating related education reforms to integrate National Board Certification in American education and to capitalize on the expertise of National Board Certified Teachers. Recognized as the “gold standard” in teacher certification, the National Board believes higher standards for teachers means better learning for students.