Bridging Dreams and Reality: Advocating for Undocumented High School Graduates
By: Maria Derner, NBCT – Belton, Missouri In this great nation of boundless opportunities, I have had the privilege of instructing a group of young dreamers for several years. These resilient, gifted, and compassionate students have profoundly enriched my experience as an educator. Yet, despite their dedication and excellence, they face a devastating dilemma: the…
Endings Help to Create Beautiful Beginnings
By: Zakiyyah Omar, NBCT – North Carolina "Sunsets are proof that endings can be beautiful." This quote by Beau Taplin resonates deeply with me as a National Board Certified school counselor. It is a constant reminder to approach the end of every counseling relationship, group session, and social-emotional lesson with intentionality and grace. As school…
Neurospicy: A Seasoning for the Soul
By Mechelle Gilford, Ed.S., NBCT https://www.nbpts.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Gilford-Neurospicy-Article-for-National-Board.mp3 Let’s face it: being a neurodivergent teacher in a neurotypical world sometimes feels like navigating a grocery store with a map to the moon—a bit of a wild goose chase, but hey, at least it’s an adventure! Think of neurodiversity as the secret ingredient that makes the…
Shaping the Future: An NBCT’s Reflections on Student-Centered Education
By Jessica Malloy, NBCT – Las Vegas, Nevada Although the National Board journey made me break into shingles, I would endure all the stress again in a heartbeat. This process stretched my mind, refocused my teaching pedagogy, and opened my heart. The Five Core Propositions challenged me to focus on my students. It taught me…
Improving Physical Literacy
By David Mills, NBCT – Owensboro, Kentucky As a physical education teacher, I aim to develop physically literate students. A physically literate student possesses the knowledge, competence, confidence, and motivation to participate in various physical activities to improve their overall health and wellness. Physical literacy is about more than just fundamental motor skills. It also…
Art Therapy with a Dash of AI for Our Visually Spectacular Students
By Mechelle Gilford, NBCT – South Bend, Indiana Ah, the magic of our classrooms! Where curious minds explore, imaginations take flight, and sometimes the most significant challenges morph into shimmering opportunities. Today, we’ll delve into the world of art therapy for our visually spectacular students – those brilliant young minds navigating the world with a…
Why school counselors should pursue National Board Certification
Annie Goldberg, NBCT – Burlington, North Carolina Being a school counselor these days feels like a nearly impossible task; our to-lists seem only to grow, and the needs we aim to meet are complex and ever-changing. When I first considered National Board Certification, I thought there was only one feasible way to accomplish it with…
Black and Latine Youth Defy Post-Pandemic Learning Loss
By: Dr. Amanda Hill-Hennie, NBCT – Philadelphia, PA Statewide Assessments Cancelled This was the headline across all news channels on March 19, 2020. I remember feeling very disappointed because the COVID-19 Pandemic was adding another layer of disruption to my life as a first-year school leader. Being charged with turning around the academic performance of…
