There are just over 137,000 National Board Certified Teachers in the United States, a number that increased late last year with the addition of 3,571 educators driven to teach at the highest standards to improve learning outcomes for their students and make a positive impact in their school and community.
Coal City Elementary School teacher Belinda Egan is among this group of highly trained educators recognized by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards [NBPTS] as a National Board Certified Teacher [NBPTS].
Egan completed the rigorous certification program late last year and is designated as a NBCT in the area of Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adult.
“We are so excited to welcome these new NBCTs to the growing ranks of accomplished teachers across the country,” said Peggy Brookins, NBCT, president and CEO of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. “I am proud to be an NBCT and to be among this incredible cohort of teachers who work tirelessly, day in and day out, to nurture and enhance the brilliance of their students.”
National Board Certification is presented by the NBPTS to advance the quality of teaching and learning through a series of standards based on what teachers should know and be able to accomplish in their classroom.
Research has shown that board certified teachers consistently outperform their peers in knowledge of subject matter and the ability to create challenging and engaging lessons.
National Board Certification is a voluntary assessment program designed to recognize and award great teachers, as well as make them better.
“I chose to become certified because I was teaching first grade at the time and I worked around many National Board Certified Teachers. I noticed how highly they spoke of the program and how they used a lot of what they learned in their classrooms. I also loved—unlike a masters program—it focused on skills and lessons you could improve for the class you are currently teaching. I wanted to become well versed in all areas of teaching and become a better teacher overall,” Egan said.
Certification is achieved through a multi-year performance based assessment that targets five core propositions—teachers committed to students and their learning, teachers know the subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to students, teachers are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning, teachers think systematically about their practice and learn from experience, and teachers are members of learning communities.
The school district has nine NBCT on staff. The group is mentored by retired early childhood educator Pam Vigna who was first certified in 2008.
Egan said her participation in the NBCT program, “has made me a more well rounded teacher. I have learned to really analyze my data and testing results to make meaningful changes that benefit my students long term. I feel that it has made me better at reflecting on my lessons as well. I am able to go back to the standards I learned and apply them daily.”
Egan, who teaches second grade, was recognized by the Coal City Community Unit 1 Board of Education at its meeting on March 6.