From Reluctant Teacher to Passionate Advocate: A Journey of Self-Discovery
Written By: Pinky Grace Francisco – Big Island, Hawaii Fourteen years… each year is a tapestry of nostalgic memories…a kaleidoscope of mixed emotions—bittersweet experiences, silent screams, flashes of cold fire, moments of shattered peace…a journey of joy and sorrow, failure and triumph, stepping forward and stepping back, procrastination and growth, and endless discovery of myself…
The Lasting Impact of National Board Certification on Educational Leadership
Written By: Jennifer Brown, NBCT – Corpus Christi, Texas As I talk to teachers in my district and around the area about the NBCT program, they tell me they won’t stay in the classroom but plan to move into administration. I tell them, “That’s perfect! That is another great reason to become an NBCT. Let…
Neurodivergent Did Not End my Teaching Career
By: Ginny Warner, NBCT – North Carolina The path to understanding my own neurodivergence was a winding one, a journey marked by subtle inconsistencies and delayed realizations. As a child, the world felt slightly out of sync. Occupational therapy became a familiar companion, aiding me in navigating the challenges of fine motor skills, particularly the…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Geography Deserves a Place in Every Classroom
By: Carol Hofer, NBCT It’s one of my “ha, ha” photos – a snapshot of a package addressed to me, who lives in Indianapolis, with a prominent stamped notice in all caps “MISSENT TO INDIA.” A stamp for this actually exists – it lead me to wonder how often it’s needed. Under Indianapolis it did…
Why Diversity Matters for Teachers and Students
By: Grand Pacheco, NBCT Diversity in the classroom is essential because it elevates teaching practices and students’ experiences to more meaningful teaching and learning. When I serve a community of learners from different backgrounds, I become more reflective on improving my pedagogical practices to ensure all my students feel welcomed, respected, and valued while meeting…
Being an NBCT comes with an obligation to equity
By: Megan Jenny, NBCT and Lauren Jewett, NBCT There have been more than a few documented instances of lawmakers excluding classroom teachers from discussions and deliberations—including the No Child Left Behind legislation of 2001. And we all know how disastrously that turned out, ushering in an era of excessive standardized testing, commodification of education, and…
