District's newest National Board Certified Teachers deserve praise

(Published Sunday, Feb. 11, 2007 in Examiner-Enterprise)

After much hard work and determination, four teachers from the Bartlesville Public School District recently learned they had earned their status as National Board Certified Teachers.

National Board certification is an honor. Those who achieve it must prove they are worthy of reaching the top standards to which teachers are held. The four teachers from our district who earned their 2006 certification are Debbie French, a first-grade teacher at Richard Kane Elementary School ; Suzy Mattke, a sixth-grade teacher at Central Middle School ; Stephanie Harris, a special education teacher at Jane Phillips Elementary School ; and Julia Quinn, a sixth-grade teacher at Madison Middle School . In recognition of their respective achievements, each teacher will receive a $5,000 stipend from the state.

The Bartlesville Public School District now boasts 27 National Board Certified Teachers.

In order to know what an achievement this certification is, one must understand a bit about the process. Certification is awarded by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, a nonprofit and independent organization. The group was formed in 1987 to propel both teaching and learning to new standards. Those who wish to prove they can meet those professional teaching standards – pursuing certification is voluntary – can apply to take part in the program.

Nearly 7,800 teachers achieved their National Board Certification in 2006, bringing the total throughout the country to more than 55,000. Last year, Oklahoma ranked seventh in the U.S. with 282 teachers who earned their certification. All told, the Sooner State has the ninth highest total number of National Board Certified Teachers in the country with 1,569. In 2001, the state had 394 instructors who had earned their certification. Since then, that number has nearly quadrupled.

Almost four percent of Oklahoma teachers have earned their certification, a figure which more than doubles the national average.

From the time a teacher applies to seek their certification, it can take as many as three years to earn it. Four portfolio entries must be submitted, three of which are classroom based. Video recordings and examples of student work serve as supporting documentation. The fourth and final entry focuses on accomplishments outside of the classroom which still impact learning – such as work done with families, colleagues and the community in general.

Certification candidates must complete six exercises which focus on their area of expertise, such as special education. The teachers are allowed up to 30 minutes to complete each exercise, and testing can be done at one of more than 300 computer-based testing centers throughout the country.

Finally, the grading process is done by no less than a dozen teachers who have been qualified for scoring based on their in-depth comprehension of NBPTS standards and guidelines.

The process is strenuous, yet well worth it. And while the teachers themselves certainly benefit, it's the students who gain the most.

“I learned to reflect daily on my teaching of exceptional needs students,” says Harris of her work at Jane Phillips Elementary School . “This was helpful as I could constantly look back at my methods of teaching and see what was working and not working and be able to redefine my methods for the next day.

“I would see steady progress from students as I did this.”