News Room

Jackson, Mississippi- The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) is pleased to announce that 16 Mississippi National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) have been selected to serve as NBCT Ambassadors and peer consultants. These expert educators have a mission to increase community awareness of the value, incentives, and support systems available for Mississippi teachers to become Board certified and dramatically increase the number of teachers of color who begin the Board certification process. The teachers serving in the peer consultant role will be focused on identifying barriers that prevent Mississippi teachers from seeking Board certification and working with educators, community…

You can listen to a recording of the call here The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (National Board) announced today on a press call a new partnership with the Permian Strategic Partnership (PSP) and the New Mexico National Board Certified Teacher Network to expand and accelerate the work of ensuring all students in the Permian Basin region are taught by accomplished, National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs). The initiative focuses on Eddy County (Artesia, Carlsbad and Loving School Districts), NM; Lea County (Eunice, Hobbs, Jal and Lovington School Districts), NM; and Ector County Independent School District, TX. Many schools in…

Due to the impact of the pandemic on communities, schools and the teaching profession, the National Board provided all candidates an opportunity to extend their submission deadline to October 16, 2020 or defer their candidacy until Spring 2021. These changes led to the need to have multiple score releases for candidates in this cycle. The First Renewal Score Release occurred on October 31, 2020. There are two score releases scheduled: December 12, 2020: Initial certification candidates who completed Component 1 testing by July 15, 2020 and/or submitted all components by June 12 (did not submit any components after June 12)…

ARLINGTON, Va. – November 19, 2020 – The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), announced today the election of five prominent educators to its Board of Directors, including accomplished educators from Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Nevada and New York. “I couldn’t be more excited to welcome our newly elected Board members. They bring a wide range of experience and insight and I’m confident that they will help us advance our mission,” said Peggy Brookins, National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT), president and CEO of the National Board. Joining the NBPTS Board of Directors are: Melissa Collins NBCT an elementary school teacher…

On Friday, November 6, Mary Hatwood Futrell was awarded the 2020 James A. Kelly Award for Advancing Accomplished Teaching. The award was presented during a meeting of a semi-annual meeting of the Board of Directors for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. “A number of distinguished people have won this award over the years including President Bill Clinton. When I heard that Mary Futrell would win the award this year, I was thrilled,” said James Kelly, the award’s namesake and first president of the National Board. “Mary is committed to the concept of high and rigorous standards for teachers.…

ARLINGTON, Va. — November 6, 2020 — Dr. Mary Hatwood Futrell, former NEA President and former dean of the George Washington University Graduate School of Education and Human Development, will receive the National Board’s James A. Kelly Award for Advancing Accomplished Teaching on November 6, 2020. The Kelly Award, named after James A. Kelly, Founding President and CEO of the National Board, recognizes and honors individuals who have contributed to the advancement of accomplished teaching. Dr. Futrell, who began her teaching career in the segregated schools of Alexandria, Virginia boasts a 60-year career working tirelessly on behalf of educators and…

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards releases new data highlighting how teaching has changed and key challenges the profession faces during the pandemic. Arlington, VA — October 1, 2020 – The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards released survey data detailing the views of National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) on teaching during the pandemic. More than 3,000 NBCTs across the country completed the survey.  NBCTs are teachers who have demonstrated they meet the profession’s standards for accomplished teaching practice by successfully completing the National Board’s advanced, voluntary, professional certification. Survey findings include: Three-quarters are working more hours during COVID-19…

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is proud to announce this year’s class of Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) winners includes 27 National Board Certified Teachers. The award recognizes outstanding K-12 teachers in the field of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or computer science.  Peggy Brookins, a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) and the President and CEO of the National Board, said “We’re proud of all awardees and especially acknowledge the NBCTs who prove every day that they teach to the highest standards in the profession. STEM fields are so important because they open the…

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards announced today that it has recently been awarded a grant from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation totaling $700,000 over two years. The National Board’s focus with the grant resources is to accelerate Mississippi’s trajectory towards becoming a national model for Board-certified teachers.  Like many states, Mississippi struggles with teacher shortages, which negatively impact the quality of student learning. At the same time, teachers of color make up less than one-third of the teacher workforce in the state, compounding inequities for students of color, which make up more than 55% of Mississippi students.…

ARLINGTON, VA — June 18, 2020 — In 2019 and 2020, 15 states have advanced policies to support and incentivize teachers to become National Board certified, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards announced today.  With these new mandates in place, 30 states now have policies that encourage teachers to pursue National Board certification, and help ensure that every student benefits from an accomplished teacher. Decades of research show that students of National Board-certified teachers (NBCTs) learn more — gaining six to eight weeks of additional student learning as compared to their peers. “High-quality teaching is the most important in-school…