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Wisconsin is now home to 266 teachers who have earned National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification, the teaching profession's highest accreditation.
The board released Tuesday (November 30, 2004) the names of 63 Wisconsin teachers who achieved certification in 2004.
"National certification is a rigorous performance-based assessment that measures what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do," WEAC President Stan Johnson said. "Teachers voluntarily spend at least one year going through the process. They dedicate many hours of their own time to improve their skills and knowledge."
The certification process can take up to three years and involves an in-depth analysis of the applicant's teaching practices, a subject-specific standardized test, and a demonstration of the applicant's contributions to the profession and the community. Applicants also submit student work samples and videotapes that illustrate classroom teaching methods and student learning.
"National certification is a high honor in the teaching profession and shows teachers' willingness to improve their performance in order to create classrooms that work," Johnson said. "Their accomplishment is especially impressive at a time when the Qualified Economic Offer law and state-imposed revenue controls are threatening the ability to provide a great school for every child."
National Board certification is voluntary and open to all teachers who hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college and who have three years' experience in the classroom. Teachers who seek certification spend $2,300 in application fees, but Wisconsin reimburses up to $2,000 to candidates who are successfully certified. The state also provides an annual stipend of $2,500 to teachers during the second through tenth year of certification.
Teachers who achieve board certification are eligible to apply for the state's highest level of license, Master Educator, under PI 34, the state's teacher licensure law. The license and the certification are valid for 10 years.
For more information on National Board certification, visit OnWEAC's Resource page on NBPTS.
List of Wisconsin educators who received certification in 2004.
Posted December 2, 2004