140 Pennsylvania teachers receive National Board Certification

Pennsylvania teachers deliver the power of a great education. This year, 140 PA teachers from school districts across the Commonwealth distinguished themselves by achieving National Board certification, bringing PA’s total of National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) to 639. More than 100 PSEA members were among the 2009 recipients.

The 2009 recipients increase PA’s total number of NBCTs by 28%. The Commonwealth ranked 15th nationwide in the number of teachers achieving National Board certification this year and ranks 21st in the total number of NBCTs.

Pennsylvania NBCTs joined the ranks of nearly 8,900 accomplished teachers nationwide who achieved certification in 2009. This achievement brings the total number of teachers certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) to more than 82,000.

An “extraordinary group,” is how U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan referred to this year’s class of National Board Certified Teachers in a September interview with NBPTS. He said teachers who achieved National Board Certification have “demonstrated a commitment to taking their teaching practice and the teaching profession to a different level.”

Like board-certified doctors and accountants, teachers who achieve National Board certification have met rigorous standards through intensive study, expert evaluation, self-assessment, and peer review.

National Board certification is the highest earned credential in the teaching profession. A teacher-driven, voluntary process established by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, certification is achieved through a rigorous, performance-based assessment that typically takes one to three years to complete, and measures what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do. National board certification does not replace the need for state certification.

As part of the process, teachers build a portfolio that includes student work samples, assignments, videotapes and a thorough analysis of their classroom teaching. Additionally, teachers are assessed on their knowledge of the subjects they teach.

Learn more about National Board certification on PSEA.org. PSEA and the NEA offer financial assistance for PA teachers interested in pursuing National Board certification.