National Board Certification Candidate Support Program | Center for Teacher Leadership, School of Education, Virginia Commonwealth University
Program Description
National Board Certification is a voluntary professional development process that recognizes accomplished teachers who meet rigorous standards of performance. Offered through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), a nonpartisan, independent, and nonprofit organization, National Board Certification complements, but does not replace, state licensing. The National Board Certification (NBC) Candidate Support Program is designed to address the changing needs of candidates as they go through the complex task of completing a portfolio that provides clear, convincing, and consistent evidence that they meet the highest standards of the teaching profession. Initial workshops focus on helping candidates understand the standards, clarify the certification process, organize their work, and address technical issues. As candidates begin to complete their portfolio entries, later workshops are designed to provide individual feedback and mentoring by National Board Certified Teachers and fellow candidates.Virginia Standard(s) Addressed
Instructional Leadership (ISLLC standard 1) and Professionalism (ISLLC standards 5 & 6)Program Goals and Objectives
Participants in the year-long support program will strengthen their knowledge and skills as classroom teachers by (1) examining the standards set forth by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards to determine what knowledge and skills are valued in each standard and how the standards translate into effective classroom practice; (2) analyzing and reflecting upon their teaching practice in relation to the National Board standards to determine the effectiveness of their teaching strategies for the challenges presented by a diverse student population; (3) studying the NBPTS standards, analyzing and reflecting on their own practice, and researching best practices; (4) identifying areas of professional growth on which to focus; and (4) completing a school-based portfolio required for National Board Certification.Program Format
Instructional strategies include presentations by National Board Certified Teachers, small group, hands-on activities, partner sharing, reflective writing, analysis and discussion of teaching videos, and peer review of draft portfolio entries.Target Audience
K-12 teachers seeking advanced certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.Self-Selection and/or Identification Through School Division
All participants self-select to go through National Board Certification. Individuals may go through the certification process without the help of the NBC Candidate Support Program. However, only teachers approved by their school divisions are accepted into the National Board Certification Candidate Support Program. Currently, the Center for Teacher Leadership conducts the NBC Candidate Support Program only for the four metro-Richmond school divisions (Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico, and Richmond City Public Schools). Only teachers approved by the metro-Richmond school divisions may participant in the NBC Candidate Support Program.Duration of Program
The National Board Certification process takes an entire school year. Candidate Support meetings take place once a month, typically on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. A typical schedule of meeting dates can be found at www.ctl.vcu.edu.Outcomes Measured
Participants' knowledge and skills are measured by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards through evaluation of their completed portfolios. In addition, participants must complete six 30-minute assessments of their content knowledge. Results of this rigorous assessment of candidates' content knowledge and teaching skills are provided by the NBPTS in November of the year after they complete the process. The NBC Candidate Support Program is evaluated by participants through a survey which provides feedback to strengthen the program. Participants may opt to take the NBC Candidate Support Program for 6-graduate credit hours. The instructor evaluates their performance in the course based on active participation in all support activities, completion of all assignments, and submission of one of the classroom-based portfolio entries.Program Evaluation
Numerous national research studies of National Board Certified Teachers have shown that they are more effective in producing student learning gains than teachers who are not National Board Certified, especially for poor and minority students. Evaluation of the effectiveness of the NBC Candidate Support Program is done through participant evaluation surveys.Contact Information
Dr. Terry Dozier, Director
Center for Teacher Leadership
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Education
P.O. Box 842020
Richmond, VA 23284-2020
804-827-0102
804-828-1323 (FAX)
tdozier@vcu.edu