Attention NBCTs!  The information below came directly from NBPTS.  The Teaching Ambassador Fellowship is a wonderful opportunity and I really hope someone from SC will apply.     Dear National Board Certified Teacher, We are extremely excited to announce that applications for the U.S. Department of Education's Teaching Ambassador Fellowships are now available. We know you are probably starting your winter break so we wanted to get this out to you well before the January 29, 2013 deadline because, as a NBCT, you are the ideal applicant for this position. This highly selective program was created because the Department of Education believes that teachers should have meaningful opportunities to both contribute to, and understand, the policies that impact their students and school communities. Teaching Ambassadors are outstanding teachers with a record of leadership, strong communication skills, and policy insight who contribute their classroom expertise to the national dialogue and in turn facilitate discussions with educators across the country. The Washington Fellowship is a full-time appointment based at the Department's Headquarters in Washington DC. The Classroom Fellowship  enables teachers to participate on a part-time basis for the Department, in addition to their regular school responsibilities, working in collaboration with the Department's Regional Offices. 50% of the current Teaching Ambassadors are NBCTs and two of our NBCTs on staff have also served in this role. Think about how powerful it would be if 100% of the 2013-2014 Teaching Ambassador Fellows were National Board Certified Teachers! Current Teaching Ambassador and Washington state NBCT Lisa Clarke strongly encourages other NBCTs to apply. "As as we think about building capacity for teacher leaders, this is a unique opportunity to do that---not only to learn from policy makers and professional organizations but also to learn from the hundreds of teachers that we're speaking with around the country." Positions are paid for one-year on a full- and part-time basis. The application deadline is January 29, 2013 and we encourage each and every one of you to apply. To access the applications, please visit the Applicant Information page or go directly to www.usajobs.gov to apply for the Washington Fellowship and/or the Classroom Fellowship . The Teaching Ambassador Fellowship is a unique opportunity for accomplished classroom teachers to have an impact on federal education policy. Who better to make an impact than National Board Certified Teachers? Sincerely, Michelle Accardi, NBCT Director of State Policy Andy Coons, NBCT Chief Operating Officer Geneviève DeBose, NBCT Director of Educator Engagement Former Washington Teaching Ambassador Andrea Hajek, NBCT Director of Educator Engagement Kristin Hamilton, NBCT Director of Standards Patrick Ledesma, NBCT Director of Research and Knowledge Management Former Classroom Teaching Ambassador    NBPTS on the Web | Accomplished Teacher

I wanted to share a link to a Elaine Kennedy's blog on Edutopia http://www.edutopia.org/blog/a-joyful-brain-friendly-classroom-elaine-kennedy.  Ms. Kennedy talks about brain-based lessons from her school, including a museum project.  Brain-based strategies allow students to construct their own knowledge while interacting with peers and teachers in meaningful ways.  It certainly seems that these types of lessons fall in line with Core Proposition 2.  You may want to check out the blog!

FYI - The information below came straight from National Board.  This is great news for Take One! candidates.

Dear Candidate, Good news! Effective with the 2012-1013 assessment cycle, candidates who have applied for full certification that previously completed Take One! and have an eligible score they intend to transfer will receive a credit of $395 on their account. What does this mean for you? If you plan to apply your Take One! score toward National Board Certification®, let us know your intent by calling 1-800-22TEACH or by logging into My Profile and sending us a message via Ask NBPTS. Once we're notified, a credit will be applied to your account in the form of a waiver, which will reduce the amount of your overall assessment fees to $2,105. Anything posted to your account over this amount will result in an overpayment.  Once an overpayment is reflected, you will be able to request a refund of those payments through My Profile.  If you plan on re-submitting the entry you completed as a Take One! participant, you are not eligible to receive this credit. By completing Take One! and continuing the journey toward National Board Certification, you have exemplified true dedication to professional growth and commitment to improving student learning.  Your commitment to teaching excellence and the high standards you hold for yourself and your students have not gone unnoticed. Thank you for the important work you do each and every day. We welcome your questions. Please call us at 1-800-22TEACH between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday, or visit our website at www.nbpts.org. Warm regards, National Board Customer Support Team

Attention Middle Child Generalist Candidates!

Attention middle childhood generalist candidates!  We have recently been told that there was a mistake in the instructions for Entry 3.  You should have received the email below from NB.  

PORTFOLIO CORRECTION

Dear Candidate,

It has come to our attention that the portfolio CD-ROM you may have received, as well as the Portfolio Instructions available for download on our website prior to October 4, contained an error on the Instructional Materials Cover Sheet for Entry 3: Integrating Mathematics with Science.

The cover sheet incorrectly instructs you to submit "no more than 6 pages total of 3 instructional material items". The number of permitted instructional materials has increased and is correctly stated on page 2-29, under the heading Choosing Instructional Materials as follows:

• Submit four instructional materials (totaling no more than 8 pages) that will help an assessor understand the content of the video recording.

We apologize for any confusion this error may have caused you.  Please use the above guideline for your submission.

If you have any questions, please call 1-800-22TEACH between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday, to speak with a member of our Customer Support team.

Warm regards,

NBPTS Customer Support

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NBPTS on the Web
| NBCTLink | Accomplished Teacher

You are receiving this email because you are a candidate for National Board Certification, or a Take One! participant. Please note if you unsubscribe, you will be unsubscribing from ALL National Board email communications, including those on candidacy and renewal. To select targeted communications, visit "Update Profile/Email Address" using the link at the bottom of this email.

Please review the information below.  This was sent to CERRA from NBPTS.

Dear National Board candidate, We're writing today to share some important information regarding My Profile availability and extensions to several key deadlines in December and January.   In an ongoing effort to optimize system performance and functionality in My Profile, annual testing and upgrades are required.  This year, it's necessary we do this work before the opening of the 2013 assessment cycle.  To accomplish this, My Profile will be unavailable beginning the evening of December 21, 2012 with an expected reopening date of January 7, 2013. What does this mean for you? During this time, candidates as well as National Board staff will be unable to access My Profile.  In addition to the basic account management features that will be unavailable, e.g., modifying an address, monitoring account status, etc., we will also be unable to process  payments, ship materials, receive and respond to Ask NBPTS inquiries, and process eligibility verification forms (for first time candidates) until after January 7.       To accommodate for this, deadlines will be extended as follows:    While certain deadlines are being adjusted, we encourage you to take care of any outstanding items you're personally responsible for submitting prior to December 21, 2012.  This will limit the impact of My Profile unavailability and will help ensure you start the new year without deadlines looming.     It's important to note the portfolio submission deadline for all products will not be extended since instructional material is available online for download.  The customer support team at 1-800-22TEACH will be available during normal business hours through this downtime; however, limited information and assistance can be provided without access to your My Profile account.  As always, we look forward to working with you throughout your candidacy or work on Take One!.          Thank you for your patience and understanding. Sincerely, National Board Customer Support Team

Hints for Writing for National Board

This blog post comes from Virginia Bartels.  Virginia is a renewed NBCT who works with me with the National Board Program.  Virginia was a high school English teacher so she is a great resource for hints and suggestions about writing National Board entries.  

When working on your written commentaries for National Board, it might be helpful to be reminded of the steps of writing:

prewrite, draft, revise, edit, polish, publish.

1.  Prewriting involves brainstorming, thinking, listing, and outlining. This preliminary stage consists of making choices.

2.  Drafting includes taking notes, playing with ideas, expanding an outline, and organizing thoughts into paragraphs. The focus is getting something "down on paper" or "up on the computer screen."  Do not concern yourself with perfection at this stage.

3.  Revising might include getting peer feedback, reading your writing aloud, conferencing in pairs or small groups, meditating, paraphrasing, condensing, expanding, and altering what you have written.  In this stage, you are concentrating on the content and its clarity, accuracy, and thoroughness.

4.  Editing addresses diction (word choice), order, sentence structure, and examples given.

5.  Polishing is primarily checking for the the last time the accuracy of mechanics, grammar, and spelling.  

6.  "Publishing" is the submission of your portfolio for those teachers who will read and score your work.

These six stages do not necessarily occur in this order.  Some stages might be skipped or blended into one another.  Sometimes the stages are not part of a one-time sequence but more of a cycle of repeated steps.

Extended Payment Plan and Eligibility Verfication

I was just talking with a candidate who is in the process of completing her eligibility verification packet.  I can't stress how important it is to get this taken care of early.  The deadline to submit your forms is January 31, 2013.  Candidates often put this off thinking they have plenty of time to get the forms completed and mailed to National Board.  Please don't wait!  The instructions can be somewhat confusing and you will be required to complete multiple forms if you have not taught in the same district for the last 3 years.    You can print the forms and instructions from the NB website at http://www.nbpts.org/become_a_candidate/eligibility_policies.

I also wanted to let you know that National Board is offering an extended payment plan if you agree to make your payments by electronic check.  The deadline for all fees to be paid will be extended from January 31, 2013 to March 15, 2013.  Please check out the information about this new option at http://www.nbpts.org/become_a_candidate/fees_financial_support/methods_of_payment.

Good luck and keep working!

Survived the First Week of School

Here's a funny blog post that may resonate with you.  It's titled "You Might Be In The First Week Of School If ..." and can be found at http://transformed.teachingquality.org/blogs/08-2012/you-might-be-first-week-school-if.  Have fun reading!  

National Support Awareness and Support Sessions

NB Candidate Support Workshops

In collaboration with National Board District Liaisons, the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement conducts informational workshops aimed to assist and guide National Board Candidates through the process of completing and submitting all portfolio entries and to help prepare candidates for the assessment center.

As workshops are scheduled throughout the year information will be posted on this page. For more information contact your local district's National Board Liaison.

CERRA Online Awareness, Support & Renewal Sessions

CERRA is proud to host a series of FREE online National Board awareness and support sessions.  The sessions will be facilitated by Jenna Hallman, NBCT and CERRA Program Director for National Board.  The session descriptions and meeting dates are listed below.  All sessions will be held online.   Please click on the link listed for the session you wish to attend.  You will be redirected to the GoToWebinar registration page.  You will receive the login instructions for your webinar once you complete the registration.  Please check your spam folder if you do not receive a confirmation email within 24 hours.  There is no need to register for multiple sessions on the same topic.  The information presented in each session will be the same. 

National Board Awareness and Support Sessions:

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National Board Awareness- Are you interested in learning more about the National Board process?  If so, this session is for you.  During our time together we will discuss the requirements of the process, the current legislation governing National Board supplements, the financial assistance available, and answer any questions you may have.  

• September 6th (4:00 - 5:15 pm) - Awareness:  https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/412882296
• October 4th (4:00 - 5:15 pm) - Awareness:  https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/987885880

National Board Renewal Workshop - This session is designed for NBCTs completing their 7th or 8th year of certification.  During our time together, we will discuss the renewal process including timelines for registration and entry submission and the current legislation governing renewal.

• September 18th (4:00 - 5:15 pm) - Renewal: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/902432233
• October 11th (4:00 - 5:15 pm) Renewal: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/664035049

Analyzing National Board Standards - The professional teaching standards for each NB certificate explain what an accomplished teacher knows and is able to do. This includes work in the classroom with students and work with parents, other professionals, and the community.  During this webinar, we will discuss strategies for analyzing the NB standards and applying them to your portfolio work.  Please have your NB standards available during the webinar.  

• September 13th (4:00 - 5:15 pm) - Analyzing Standards: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/152882001

Take One!  The National Board Take One! program allows educators to sample the National Board process by completing one pre-selected, video-based entry and submitting it to be scored.  Candidates can bank their scores for up to 3 years and apply these scores towards full certification.  All teachers are eligible for this process!  During the webinar, we will discuss the requirements of the process, the timelines, the CERRA statewide cohort option, and the fees associated with Take One!  

• September 27th (4:00 - 5:15 pm) Take One! Overview: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/200928992
• October 10th (4:00 - 5:15)  Take One! Overview: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/891501896

Last Year for Federal Subsidy Funds

South Carolina teachers have been fortunate enough to have financial assistance available to hep offset the cost of the NB process for a very long time.  When the SC General Assembly made the decision to end the NB loan program, we were able to collaborate with NBPTS and develop plans for providing Federal Subsidy grant and Friends of South Carolina scholarship funds to interested teachers.  We were aware that the Friends of SC funds were more than likely a one-time offer.  What we did not expect, was the end of the Federal Subsidy program.

Recently, CERRA was informed by NBPTS that the 2012-2013 NB cycle would probably be the last time Federal Subsidy funds would be offered to candidates.  There will be no subsidy funds available for candidates during the 2013-2014 cycle and future funds from this source are unlikely (at this time).

What does this mean?

• If you have already applied for Federal Subsidy funds, there is nothing you need to do.  Your funds have been or will be processed as long as your eligibility is confirmed.
• If you are interested in completing the National Board Certification process and need financial assistance, you need to apply this year.  We still have funds available!  Please see the information below.
• If you know any SC teachers who are eligible for this process, please let them know that this may be the very last year for financial assistance of this kind.  

Financial Assistance for NB Certification

Effective August 2010, National Board initial candidates are eligible to apply for Federal Subsidy Funds to help offset the costs associated with the National Board Certification process. South Carolina has been given a limited amount of Federal Subsidy money for initial candidates during the 2012-2013 National Board cycle.   Initial candidates may request $1250 which will be applied towards their National Board Certification fees. The application for Federal Subsidy Funds is only available online through CERRA. Federal Subsidy Funds are available on a first-come/first-served basis. Candidates who have received Federal Subsidy Funds to cover any previous certification attempts are not eligible for additional funds. Candidates who use Federal Subsidy money for initial certification will not be eligible to apply for Federal Subsidy Funds to cover the costs of any necessary retake entries. Candidates must have applied with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and have paid the $65 application processing charge and the $500 initial application fee before applying for the scholarship.

PLEASE NOTE:  FEDERAL SUBSIDY FUNDS WILL NOT BE OFFERED FOR THE 2013-2014 NATIONAL BOARD CYCLE.

The application for Federal Subsidy funds is available on the CERRA website at https://cerra.wufoo.com/forms/z7s9p9/.

Release Forms

As you prepare your classrooms for the start of school, let me remind you that this is the perfect time to start collecting release forms.  According to the NB portfolio instructions "You must have the parents/guardians of all students you plan to include in the video recording complete Student Release Forms before you make any video recordings. You must have any adults who will appear in the video recording (for example, teacher’s aides, parents, student teachers, or colleagues) sign an Adult Release Form prior to recording."

You can find a copy of the required release form in the forms section of your certificate specific portfolio instructions.  If you teach a self-contained class (meaning you have the same group of students all day) plan to send the release form home with every student.  If you teach different classes, you may want to choose 1-3 classes to focus on and then only send the form home with those students.  I strongly encourage you to write a letter and attach it to the form.  Be sure to explain what the NB process is, how it will benefit the students, and reassure the parents that YOU are the focus in the videos.  National Board will NOT evaluate or critique the students in any way.  If you are holding an Open House soon, plan to discuss the process at that time as well.

Don't be afraid to offer incentives for bringing back the signed form - regardless of whether or not the parent gives you permission to include their child in your video. 

Please see the message below from National Board.  The Friends of SC scholarship will cover $750 of the fees associated with going through this process.  In order to be eligible for this funding, you must be (1) a SC public school teacher; (2) have applied with National Board; and (3) already paid the $565 in initial fees.  This is basically "free" money as there is no repayment process.  Even if you do not certify, you do not have to pay the money back.  Please note that this pot of money is extremely limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis.  National Board is administering these funds so please call National Board at 1-800-22-TEACH with any questions.  

On another note - CERRA still has Federal Subsidy money available.  Please visit our new website at www.cerra.org for information on how to apply for $1250 to help cover the costs associated with the NB process.  

Greetings!  Thank you for your interest in the National Board Scholarship Program.  Good news - we expect to open the 2012-2013 Scholarship Application on Monday, July 30.    Here are a few things you need to know before you submit your application:   If you've already applied for National Board candidacy or as a Take One! participant, you will need to login to My Profile and go to Fees and Payments for a link to the Scholarship Application. If you have not yet submitted a National Board candidate or Take One! application, you will need to login to My Profile to apply now.  You will have access to the Scholarship Application link once your completed application, including the $65 application processing charge for first-time candidates, has been submitted. Scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are a first-time candidate for National Board Certification®, you must pay the nonrefundable $500 initial fee to be considered for a scholarship. As you look toward taking your career to the next level, know that National Board Certification is widely recognized as the highest credential in the teaching profession.    If you have any questions, please call 1-800-22TEACH between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday, to speak with a member of our Customer Support team.   Warm regards,   NBPTS Customer Support

Getting Started

For those of you who have already applied to participate in the National Board Certification process for the 2012-2013 school year, I wanted to offer some advice about how you can begin preparing this summer.  National Board materials make for great beach and poolside reading!  I would suggest that you visit the National Board website at www.nbpts.org and download and print the following materials:  The Guide to NB Certification; The Scoring Guide; The National Board Standards for your certificate; the general and certificate specific portfolio instructions.  Take some time this summer to read, highlight, and beginning processing all of this information.

You may want to begin organizing yourself for the work you are going to complete.  I would suggest that you create a folder for each of the 10 entries.  For entries 1-4, place a copy of the portfolio instructions related to that entry in each folder.  For the assessment center exercises (entries 5-10,) place a copy of the exercise description in the appropriate folder.  As you come across ideas, data, articles, etc. that apply to each particular entry put it in the correct folder.  This is especially important for the assessment center exercises.  For example, if you are reading an article that talks about teaching math and you know math is one of your assessment center topics, put the article in the math entry folder so that you can refer to it before you go to the assessment center.  You should also start a master binder that is subdivided for each of the portfolio entries.  Print off the cover sheets, classroom layout forms etc. (found in your certificate specific portfolio instructions) and put them in the correct order in your binder.  Refer to the final inventory forms (also found in your certificate specific portfolio instructions) to complete this task.  Place a sheet of paper behind each cover sheet and indicate how many pages of information will be included.  When you are ready, remove the sheet of paper and place the actual entry in its place.

Buy yourself a paper calendar for the 2012-2013 school year or set up an online calendar this summer.  The NB process takes time.  You will not be able to complete this work over spring break so you must make time for it.  Use the information below to begin planning for this process.


Mark Your Calendars

• † Circle and label the Portfolio due date. 
• † Mark the day you would like to ship your portfolio (plan to submit it prior to the deadline date).  Candidates underestimate the time it takes to “pack” the portfolio. Mark a “’Packing Day” 2 or 3 days before your planned shipping date. 
• † Mark out days that you already know you have previous commitments which would prohibit your working on the portfolio. Schedule in the non-negotiable events (anniversary, birthdays etc., football games, whatever is important to you).
• † Use a highlighter to note times that will be very busy for you and may limit the amount of time you can spend working on your portfolio. This could be a certain day of the week when you have commitments or it could be over a period of time when you know you will be busy, such as over holidays or a busy time at school. 
• † Make a bold circle around days that may be especially good days for focused work on your portfolio. This might be a certain day of the week when you have no other obligation, a time when the house will be empty or a break from school. Make every attempt to designate, and hold sacred, portfolio work days. 
• † Pencil in dates for lessons/units you may showcase in each of your student-based entries. Or, pencil in all units, superimposing your long-range plans onto this calendar. Highlight the ones that would allow you to best demonstrate the NB standards.  
• † Mark dates to practice videotaping so that you and your students can be accustomed to the equipment.  
• † Make a commitment to begin one or more entries and mark it on your calendar. (Many candidates begin with Entry 4, Documented Accomplishments as this entry may be completed without collecting any evidence from the classroom.) 
• † Mark dates for any NB support workshops that may be available in your area. 
• † Mark dates to meet with other NBCTs in your school or district and determine what to bring for feedback, for example: Instructional Context, videotaped lesson, the Categories chart for Entry 4, etc. 
• † Use the NB Portfolio timeline to block out time for different aspects of the portfolio. 
• † Mark the last day for the Assessment Center. 
• †Schedule celebrations or rewards for work accomplished!

Upcoming National Board Sessions

CERRA is proud to sponsor a series of FREE regional National Board Awareness and Getting Started combination sessions across the state in June 2012.  These combined sessions are appropriate for teachers interested in learning more about National Board Certification and beginning their work on the NB portfolio.  Each session is limited to 30 participants and advanced registration is required.  The sessions will be facilitated by Jenna Hallman, NBCT and CERRA Program Director for National Board, Brett Vaughn, NBCT or Meike McDonald, NBCT. The session dates and locations are listed below.  Most sites are offering a morning and an afternoon session.  The sessions are identical and interested parties do not need to attend both the morning and afternoon workshops.  Teachers are welcome to attend any session in the state.  Please click on the link listed for the session you wish to attend.  You will be redirected to the registration page.  Please check your spam folder if you do not receive a confirmation email within 24 hours. 

Region 1 Sessions:  June 22, 2012

Location:  Auditorium at the University Center, Greenville, SC     

Directions: http://www.ucgreenville.org/contact/location-a-directions.html

Morning Session (9:00—11:45):  https://cerra.wufoo.com/forms/z7s7r5/

Afternoon Session (1:00 - 3:45):  https://cerra.wufoo.com/forms/z7s7m7/

Presenter:  Brett Vaughn

 

Region 2 Sessions:  June 7, 2012

Location:  Joe Adair Outdoor Education Center

                     110 Scout Creek Court Laurens, SC

Morning Session (10:00 – 12:30): https://cerra.wufoo.com/forms/z7s7a9/

Presenter:  Jenna Hallman

 

Region 3 Sessions:  June 13, 2012

Location:  Olympia Center, Richland School District One

                      621 Bluff Road Columbia, SC

Morning Session (9:00 - 11:45) :  https://cerra.wufoo.com/forms/z7s6k1/

Afternoon Session (1:00 - 3:45): https://cerra.wufoo.com/forms/z7s6p3/

Presenter:  Jenna Hallman

 

Region 4 Session:  June 20, 2012

Location:  Poyner Center (room 2-A)

                     319 South Dargon Street, Florence SC

Session (2:00 - 4:30): https://cerra.wufoo.com/forms/z7s6s5/

Presenter:  Jenna Hallman

 

Region 5 Sessions:  June 13, 2012  National Board Awareness Only 

Location:  Garrett Academy of Technology (library)

                      2731 Gordon Street, North Charleston, SC

 Morning Session (10:30 - 11:30):  https://cerra.wufoo.com/forms/z7s6q7/

Presenter:  Meike McDonald

 

 CERRA Online Awareness, Support & Renewal Sessions

CERRA is proud to host a series of FREE online National Board awareness and support sessions.  The sessions will be facilitated by Jenna Hallman, NBCT and CERRA Program Director for National Board or Brett Vaughn, NBCT.  The session descriptions and meeting dates are listed below.  All sessions will be held online.   Please click on the link listed for the session you wish to attend.  You will be redirected to the GoToWebinar registration page.  You will receive the login instructions for your webinar once you complete the registration.  Please check your spam folder if you do not receive a confirmation email within 24 hours.  There is no need to register for multiple sessions on the same topic.  The information presented in each session will be the same. 

 National Board Awareness and Support Sessions:

National Board Awareness- Are you interest in learning more about the National Board process?  If so, this session is for you.  During our time together we will discuss the requirements of the process, the current legislation governing National Board supplements, the financial assistance available, and answer any questions you may have.  Advanced registration is required.  Please register at:

May 29th (4:00 - 5:15) - Awareness: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/153484128

July 12th (10:00 - 11:15 am) - Awareness:  https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/955494064

August 1st (10:00 - 11:15 am) - Awareness:  https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/451161209

 

Support Session

This is a reminder that PSTA is sponsoring a National Board Workshop on April 28^th from 10 AM to 2 PM at the Palmetto State Teachers Association building in downtown Columbia.

The workshop is led by Brett DeLoach Vaughn.  She has conducted candidate support workshops and trainings in South Carolina for nine years.

The April 28^th workshop will focus on “Preparing for the Assessment Center” – Assessment Center, Scoring Guide, Assessment at a Glance, Standards.

Interested persons can register for the event by visiting www.palmettoteachers.org and clicking on the Events tab or by calling our office at 803-256-2065. Cost is $25 for PSTA members and $50 for non-members.

Please pass the word!  Thank you very much!

The power is in the process

I just received the following message from Trevor I., a NB candidate in Sumter, and thought that I would share his thoughts on the NB process (with his permission of course).  I met Trevor at and Awareness meeting arranged by the district NB liaison and am thrilled to hear that his box is in the mail!

Last Saturday - March 31 - I packaged the contents of my portfolio & mailed it off to the National Boards scoring center in San Antonio. Attached, you'll find a few pictures as the morning-long process unfolded with the finished product and a few special ladies who were on hand to offer their assistance (my mentor, mother, and aunt). Before devoting my attention to the second part of the NB Process, the examination, it is with due diligence that I share with you - my support group - the following reflection as I bring closure to the first half of this yearlong journey. 

I have participated in numerous professional development activities in my five years of classroom teaching experiences. My participation was mandated in some, but, for some, I purposefully sought out my inclusion! However, none surpasses the role that the National Boards for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) process has positively impacted my direct growth as a teacher and learner and advanced my students' learning. Many of you reading this email are teachers and, therefore, appreciate the inherent value of reflective practice. However, I sought out many of you with no ties to the profession to read through several of my entries to ensure that what was written could be visualized and was communicated with clear, consistent, and convincing evidence. Generally speaking, teachers generally have little practice in description, analysis, and reflecting, since it is not part of the daily (coerced) practice of teaching. Back in my undergraduate studies at USC, I learned that thinking analytically about teaching is complicated because teaching itself is complicated. Yet, through the actions of some of my first mentors - Sherry B, Marilyn I, & Jay B - I became convinced that reflection leads to better action and that reflective teachers are, consequently, more effective teachers. 

The National Board certification process has simply been the most intense and and influential personal & professional development activity that I have been engaged in. The NBPTS process recognizes that teaching is an art and that to grow as artists, teachers need opportunities to ponder, look, and listen in order to effectively scrutinize their teaching practice. The first part of this journey was the portfolio, which is developed around a highly structured set of four entries that allowed me the opportunity to present my actual classroom practices over a defined period of time. Through four entries specific to my domain as a middle school science teacher, I chose artifacts that document my teaching "prowess" and wrote extensive commentaries, analyses, and interpretations about the work I am engaged in with scholars in my classroom and beyond. Reflection is a critical aspect that was embedded in each entry prompt. 

This entire process stimulated a personal, reflective inquiry into my own teaching practice and has not only advanced my own learning but, more importantly, the learning for my scholars. I thank you for the role you played - whetherdirect or indirect - in helping me to complete the first half of the National Boards journey. My National Boards teaching examination is scheduled for Thursday, June 14. I will keep you updated in the coming months. 

My best, 

Trevor

Poem

This poem was shared by Constance Higgonbotham from the SCEA at our NB liaison meeting yesterday.  

The National Board Cuts

(Adapted by Constance Higginbotham from the SCEA from Cat in the Hat)

These National Board cuts

These National Board cuts

We do not like these National Board cuts.

Do you like these National Board cuts?

We do not like these National Board cuts;

We do not like them very much.

Would you like them here or there?

We would not like them here or there.

We would not like them anywhere.

We do not like these National Board cuts

We do not like them very much.

Would you like them for our schools?

Would you like them as a rule?

We would not like them for our schools.

We would not like them as a rule.

We would not like them here or there.

We would not like them anywhere.

We do not like these National Board cuts

We do not like them very much.

Would you like them for just one year?

Could you support them without fear?

We would not like them for just one year.

We could not support them without fear.

We would not like them for our schools.

We would not like them as a rule.

We would not like them here or there.

We would not like them anywhere.

We do not like these National Board cuts

We do not like them very much.

Complain! Complain!

Would you could you and not complain?

We would not could not and not complain.

Give me a minute I will explain.

National Board is a program

That’s been around for years

Where teachers are scored by their peers.

Not just portfolios; Not just some test;

But reflection of their practice

Makes this process the best.

South Carolina is number three

We’re making progress can’t you see?

We’re improving instruction in our classes

And raising test scores for our lads and lasses.

This program allows us to recruit and retain

The very best so students can gain.

You may like these National Board cuts

Just wait and see.

They are not good for students; listen to our plea.

Hear us, hear us; give us your trust.

Change your mind you truly must.

Research says it’s good for our classes

And raises scores for our lads and lasses.

We do not like these National Board cuts.

We do not like them very much.

We would not, could not and not complain.

Not when our students often show gain.

We would not like them for just one year.

We could not support them without fear.

We would not like them for our schools.

We would not like them as a rule.

We would not like them here or there.

We would not like them anywhere.

We do not like these National Board cuts

We do not like them very much.

Look at our work; See what we’ve done.

With your funding and support

We will all have won!

National Board Renewal

I went through the NB Renewal process last year and am happy to say that I did re-certify.  My mother, who is supposed to be my biggest fan, made me the most nervous.  She kept asking me what would happen if I (as Program Director for NB at CERRA) did not re-certify.  I'm glad I didn't have to answer her question.

As you probably expect, the renewal process is rigorous.  I spent time planning, writing, and reflecting but in a weird way it was fun.  We never have the opportunity to reflect upon everything we have done as educators.  The renewal process gave me that opportunity and allowed me to see how my choices have impacted students.  The thoughts below are my reminders and suggestions about the process.

The renewal instrument documents your professional growth over the last 8-9 years.  Your job is to submit evidence linking your professional growth to student achievement.  Remember the student is at the center of everything we do.

You must renew in the same area as your original certificate.  You should begin the process as an 8th year NBCT because if you allow your NB certificate to expire you must begin the entire process over again.   Your portfolio of professional growth is due on April 30th.

I would suggest that you review the Core Propositions, the Architecture of Accomplished Teaching, and the current standards for your certificate before you begin.  Make sure that your professional growth experiences have evolved, are varied and/or multifaceted, and have been a focus over an extended period of time.  When I started trying to determine which professional growth experiences I wanted to include in my portfolio I wrote everything I had been involved with over the last 8 years on separate notecards.  I gave the notecards to some of my coworkers and asked them what I had forgotten.  Once I had my stack of notecards finished, I started categorizing them by patterns and/or connections.  The piles became my professional growth experiences.

Your renewal application will be read holistically by one assessor.  Therefore, you do not need to repeat information in each entry.  You only need to say something one time, which will save you a good bit of space. Your scores will be reported as renewed or not renewed.  There is no opportunity to bank scores.

I promise this process is not bad at all!  Let me know if I can help you as you move forward. 

Videotaping for NB

Everyone who goes through the NB process must record and submit two videos (one for Take One! candidates).  I hated videotaping myself as both an initial and renewal candidate.  I just knew I was skinnier, my hair was less grey, and my voice was less annoying than it appeared in the video!  Once you get past these types of thoughts you will find the videotaping process to be extremely beneficial.  In this blog I want to give some hints and suggestions that may help you.  Please feel free to send your questions to me at hallmanj@cerra.org or post them below.  Good luck!

• Make sure you have a signed NB Student Release form and a signed NB Adult Release form (think assistants, student teachers) for every person who appears in your video.
• Use a separate microphone, especially when you are working with small groups.
• Position the video camera on the side of your classroom and use the wide angle lens so that you can "see" as many students as possible.  It is not necessary for every student to be visible in the video.
• If you are having someone record for you, ask them to wear headphones.  This way they can hear exactly what is being recorded.  There is nothing worse than a great video with no sound!
• Practice videotaping but always adhere to the NB standards.  You never know - your practice video may become the video you decide to submit.  Also, the NB standards should become a part of who you are as a teacher.  We don't do these things just to certify.  
• Your video does not have to be the first 15 minutes of your lesson.  You should select the 15 minutes (or whatever amount of time your certificate requires) that best showcases your teaching.  
• The first 3-5 minutes of a new tape are always less clear than the remainder of the tape. 
• Tell the office you are recording and place a sign on your door so you are not interrupted.  
• It takes your camera about 5 seconds to start recording after you hit the record button.
• Analyze your videotapes!  Begin by watching the tape without sound.  What does your class look like?  Then listen to the tape without watching the screen.  What does your class sound like?  Finally, use both senses and watch and listen to the tape.  Use the Evaluation of Evidence Guide for your certificate and the entry you are working on to help you analyze the video.  The Evaluation of Evidence Guide is available at  http://www.nbpts.org/for_candidates/scoring.  You should also refer to the questions related to analyzing videos which are listed in the general portfolio instructions  http://www.nbpts.org/for_candidates/the_portfolio.

Your videos are important because they allow NB to see the interaction that occurs between you and your students and between students.  It also gives them a view of how you engage students in their learning and the climate in your classroom.  Your analysis of the video is just as important.  

Deadline Extensions

Please see the information below from NB concerning deadlines!  

Deadline Extension:

Good news! If you are participating in the 2011-12 assessment cycle:

• First time candidates: Eligibility Verification Forms and full payment of assessment fees accepted through Feb 29 
• Advanced candidates: Applications accepted through Feb 15; full payment of retake fees accepted through Feb 29 
• Take One!: Full payment of Take One! fees accepted through Feb 29 
• Renewal: Applications accepted through Feb 15; full payment of renewal fees accepted through Feb 29

Deadlines Approaching

This is a reminder that some important deadlines are right round the corner.  I copied the information below from the NB website.  Please notice that the Customer Support office will be open tomorrow so don't be afraid to call if you have any questions.  

Deadline Alert: January 31, 2012

If you are participating in the 2011-12 assessment cycle, the following are due on January 31, 2012:

• First time candidates: Eligibility Verification Forms and full payment of assessment fees are due.
• Advanced candidates: Application submission; Full payment of retake fees are due.
• Take One!: Full payment due
• Renewal: Application submission; Full payment due

Customer Support will be open on Saturday, January 28, 2012, from 8AM to 12 noon CT. This is in addition to our regular hours of service; 8AM to 6PM CT, Monday through Friday. Call 1-888-780-7805