Fifteen more Tacoma Public Schools teachers received their National Board Certification in 2008. They are: Adrienne Dale, Anthony Lund, Mary Jane Bardsley, Melanie Wyckoff, Diane Brewer, Donna Basil, Gabrielle Finckbone, Susan Gregory, Susan Mosich, Heidi Ruud, Dawn Baughman, Michele Dimant, Erin O’Donnell, Megan Gibson and Kimmie Choi.
“Established and administered by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), National Board Certification is a voluntary assessment program designed to improve student learning by recognizing and rewarding highly accomplished teachers and improving overall teaching effectiveness,” said Joseph A. Aguerrebere, president and CEO of NBPTS. While state licensing systems set basic requirements to teach in each state, National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) successfully demonstrate advanced teaching knowledge, skills and practices.
National Board Certification is available nationwide for most pre-K–12 teachers, and is an advanced teaching credential, valid for up to 10 years. Candidates complete 10 assessments that are reviewed by trained teachers in their certificate areas. The assessments include four portfolio entries that feature teaching practice and six constructed-response exercises that assess content knowledge.
NBPTS standards are based on the Five Core Propositions that form the foundation for what all accomplished teachers should know and be able to do and provide a reference that helps educators link teaching standards to teaching practices. The Five Core Propositions are:
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Teachers are committed to students and their learning.
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Teachers know subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to students.
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Teachers are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning.
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Teachers think systematically about their practice and learn from experience.
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Teachers are members of learning communities.
For more information on the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, check the Web site at www.nbpts.org.
Contact the district's Professional and Organizational Development department, 253.571.1061, for more information about the National Board Certified teachers.