Professionalism Part 1 Samuel Levinson The Purpose of The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards The professional

organization known as The National Board for Professional Teaching was formed in 198 with the purpose of advancing teaching and learning! "# creating standards of $ualit# for teachers to use% The s#stem is voluntar# and is there to help teachers to improve and make reforms% This organization is not for profit! and it is an individual group that is not associated with our government% Providing a positive "enefit to students and changing the wa# teachers assist in the learning process is one of the main goals of this organization% &aking a difference in education! helping to enhance "oth teaching and learning is part of their mission statement% To further e'pand on this idea! The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS)! the organization seeks to advance learning with esta"lished standards! and also to provide programs that will enhance techni$ues that are alread# working! for Nation Board certified teachers% *rom its creation in 198 ! a coalition of educators have worked to meet these goals! making a difference in the education s#stem%

+urrent Topics The organization,s mission statement of advancing the learning of students and esta"lishing standards remains the same% This goal is the same throughout the organization! and as time progresses - would think that the organization will continue with these goals% - don,t think that there will "e a point where advancements in education

will stop% There is alwa#s room for improvement! no matter how successful an organization! or education! ma# "ecome% The "oard has a plan of continuing the advancement of teachers% There is a program called the video o"servation program that allows principals and teachers to have more involvement and to have "etter o"servation% So the video camera would "e an asset in this t#pe of improvement% Building great opportunit# in a school s#stem is the topic that is at the forefront% .efining standards will most likel# continue in this organization%

+onferences The conference held "# NBPTS is /ingspread! and it is designed to offer scholars! polic# makers! and other influential individuals in education an opportunit# discuss the organization and also talk a"out techni$ues that work% -t is a meeting of those who have an interest in NBPTS! in order to clarif# goals! as well as speak a"out the past! the present! and what the# think the future will hold for NBPTS and education% -n 011 ! over thirt#2five people arrived to talk a"out the organization and to discuss educational insight to make improvements in the future% This took place during the twentieth anniversar# of the NBPTS organization,s founding% Therefore! it was a cele"ration of a milestone in holding an organization as it relates to improving teachers and students% 3ualit# education was a centerpiece of the conference! and there were several papers discussed% These papers involved the future of teaching and standards! national "oard certification as it relates to challenges and "enefits! and also improving instructions in our classrooms%

4pportunities for +ertification

The organization allows for man# opportunities in certificates! offering twent#2five different that cover a wide range of topics! appealing to at least ninet#2five percent of those who teach% The we"site for the organization has lots of information on the certificates! and suggests that those who want to appl# "ring a portfolio! and other information% -t is detailed and gives the su"5ect area and developmental areas% The information is up2to2date! as stated on the organization,s we"site% There are two drop2 down menus of areas that one ma# e'plore! in order to in$uire for a certificate% *or the convenience of those seeking a certificate with the organization! there is also a phone num"er that one ma# cal to in$uire a"out the materials one ma# need% The documents provided are in P.* format! so the# ma# easil# "e accessed "# those online% There are separate areas of the we"site for certification for principals and also areas for teachers%

Pu"lications The NBPTS offers links to pu"lications associated with the organization% *or those who are una"le to find the pu"lications! or would prefer a cop# of them! one ma# contact NBPTS and re$uest a hardcop#% These pu"lications include man# documents! for e'ample there is a pu"lication titled 67etting -t 8ight 9'ecutive Summar#: and another pu"lication known as 6National Board +ertification for Principals%: There is a list of the pu"lications with a "rief listing of information% These are onl# two of the pu"lications% The 67etting -t 8ight 9'ecutive Summar#: has a focus on providing a resource for the states and school districts! to assisting in the development of teacher evaluation and s#stems of support% -t is m# understanding that this document allows those in a state to have their own understanding of the reforms that should "e made so that teachers will "e

more effective when assisting their students% - think that an# measures or ideas to enhance the teaching e'perience should "e taken and that it is good that suggestions are offered% The report e'plains that the efforts of teachers will take the guidance of others to meet goals% This ma# "e true in man# situations! in that there ma# "e classrooms that need more assistance from an instructor% So it is a"out creating and keeping methods of evaluations as it relates to teaching% The article gives their own recommendations and framework for developing a s#stem of evaluation! in order to create a "etter classroom with teachers who are more e'perienced% ;s for the pu"lication known as 6National Board +ertification for Principals!: it is e'plained that an effective principal is important for teachers! students! and the entire school% So there are suggestions made to improve those who are principals and that learning engagement of students will increase! with a principal,s a"ilit# to recognize the "est teachers! and create an atmosphere in a school that is consistent and produce the feeling of relia"ilit#% - feel that all of these pu"lications! including the two that are listed! show that the NBPTS is dedicated to advancing school s#stems! with a focus on personnel such as principals and teachers%

&em"ership Prices To 5oin the organization! #ou must su"mit an application and pa# a fee of si't#2five dollars% This is to process #our application! and the we"site lists it as non2refunda"le% <ou must also su"mit five2hundred dollars in order to appl# and an assessment fee of two2 thousand and five2hundred dollars to 5oin% This seems to "e ver# e'pensive! and - am surprised at this charge% /e are given detailed information on the we"site on how to su"mit the applications and funds! detailing what each part of it is for% 4n man# areas!

those who wish to participant are given until the end of the #ear or earl# ne't #ear to make sure the organization receives the re$uired items% The we"site is detailed! and in addition to the details of when to pa# and the amount that the participant is to pa#! we are also told of the methods of pa#ment! assistance in fees! and scholarships% - "elieve these scholarships ma# work the same as financial aid from the organization%

&em"ership Benefits There are numerous "enefits of 5oining the organization% Becoming a National Board certified teacher is one of the main "enefits% -t is descri"ed as a wa# to advance the learning of students! as well as make the school a "etter place for learning% The organization provides studies and reviews in part of the process of certification% So one ma# enhance their a"ilities and have the recognition of having the skills to make one a "oard certified teacher "# "eing a mem"er of the organization% -t is mentioned that a teacher ma# have the "enefit of 5ointing the ranks of the countr#,s most influential teachers with the skills the# need to make a positive difference in the education s#stem% The organization tells us that reviewing certification means that a teacher will "e strengthened in their teaching standards! have a "etter wa# of helping students to comprehend the material! demonstrate leadership in the classroom! impact the curriculum! increase their salar#! and meet the definition of a 6high standards: teacher in regards to $ualifications%

-nterest -n am undecided on whether or not - would like to 5oin this organization% Perhaps in

the future - ma# decide to look into 5oining! as it seems that the# do offer e'tensive "enefits for teachers% -t is appealing to me that NBPTS details the improvements that are offered! including "ecoming a more committed teacher! knowing su"5ects "etter in order to "etter teach them! managing learning! thinking s#stematicall#! and "ecoming a mem"er of a learning communit#% - feel that a teacher should have the most up to date knowledge of teaching methods and have the latest training% Therefore! if this organization is a"le to help one improve! then - think it would "e one that - should consider 5oining in the future%

8eference=

6National Board for Professional Teaching Standards: 0110 NBPTS! n"pts%org >http=??n"pts%org?a"out@usA