63 Wisconsin Teachers Achieve Profession's Highest Certification
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