La Jolla, CA – National University’s School of Education is establishing a center to promote and support National Board Certified Teachers. It is also supporting the initiation of a non-profit association that will serve this distinguished group of teacher leaders.
The new Center for National Board Certified Teachers will be announced by Sandra Tracy, Ed.D., interim dean of National University’s School of Education, at a reception to recognize and celebrate San Diego-area National Board Certified Teachers on Saturday, March 13 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at National University’s administrative headquarters in La Jolla. State Senator Dede Alpert will serve as the keynote speaker. Congresswoman Susan Davis will also address the audience and Nancy Schwartz, director of state and local outreach programs for the National Board for Professional Teacher Standards, will be in attendance.
National Board Certification is a voluntary process, requiring an extensive series of performance-based assessments that includes teaching portfolios, student work samples, videotapes and thorough analyses of the candidates’ classroom teaching and student learning. Candidates must also complete a series of written exercises that probe their subject-matter knowledge and their understanding of how to best teach those subjects to their students. The process can take from one to three years to complete. Once achieved, it is considered a mark of teaching excellence.
At least 44 National University alumni have been identified among the 687 California teachers who achieved National Board Certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) in 2003.
A total of 8,196 National Board Certified Teachers throughout the United States were announced last December by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization governed by a board of directors, the majority of whom are classroom teachers.
National University’s National Board Certified Teacher Center will offer support to teachers going through the certification process. Certified teachers who volunteer to become members of the association will have extended opportunities to collaborate on special projects, and work with university faculty, community partners and legislators to impact teacher education, teaching and learning in California, according to Ronarae Adams, director of NBCT Programs for National University and a faculty member in its School of Education. She is also a National Board Certified Teacher.
National University prepares more candidates for single subject, multiple subject and special education teaching credentials than any other single institution of higher education in California, according to the most recent figures released by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC).
Graduates and credential completers from National University’s School of Education are recognized as some of the best educators in California, according to independent assessments from the National Blue Ribbon School competition, the California Distinguished School Program, various Teacher of the Year competitions and NBCT certification.
To view a complete list of National Board Certified Teachers in California, visit the NBPTS Website. For more information regarding the National University Association for National Board Certified Teachers, please contact David Neville, director of information and community relations, at (858) 642-8163.