Wake Tops the Nation in National Board Certified Teachers

January 9, 2006 - The Wake County Public School System has 1,137 teachers who have earned certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. The 186 teachers who earned certification during 2006 and the 951 current WCPSS teachers with certification means WCPSS has the largest corps of teachers to earn certification from the National Board of any school system in the nation.

List of 951 Teachers Earning Certification from National Board

Wake Superintendent Del Burns received a congratulatory phone call from National Board president Dr. Joe Aguerrbere with the news that Wake County had more teachers earn certification than any other school district in the nation.

“What an honor to be recognized as the school district where teachers work hard to improve their skills for teaching and learning,” said Burns. “The certification process takes a year and is demanding work. These teachers are great role models for our students showing them the importance of studying hard and valuing academics.”

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards began its certification program 12 years ago. The Wake County Public School System and the state of North Carolina have supported and encouraged teachers to earn certification.

Top WCPSS Schools
Leesville Road High School has 35 current teachers who have earned certification, the most of any Wake County school. Enloe High and Durant Road Middle are next with 28 teachers. Millbrook High has 24 teachers with certification.

Among WCPSS middle schools is Durant Road Middle, then Salem Middle with 17 and Davis Drive Middle with 16.

Among WCPSS elementary schools, Salem has 15 and David Drive has 14.

Certification has benefits
Leesville Road High principal Stephen Gainey said the teachers at Leesville work hard teaching students during the day and being students at the end of the school day. Dr. Gainey said a number of teachers either seek certification from the National Board or work towards higher degrees in area colleges and universities. 82 of the school’s 156 member faculty hold advanced degrees. Thirty have earned certification from the National Board.

“Our teachers value teaching and learning,” said Gainey. “We seek to hire staff who have high expectations for themselves, their fellow teachers and their students. As a result teachers share with their colleagues the benefits of earning certification and encourage them to join them.”

Faculty need to know they are supported says Gainey. He wants teachers at Leesville to know that earning certification helps the school and benefits students.

“It’s exciting to see the teachers who take up the challenge of the National Board or working towards a higher degree,” said Gainey. “It brings new energy to the classroom and new leadership that drives instructional initiatives.”

Millbrook High principal Dana King says that getting Board certified is part of a regular and on-going conversation at Millbrook. 

“We believe all of our staff are capable of earning National Board recognition and we try to get them to believe this also,” said King. “We talk about National Board certification during the interview process as we look to hire new staff and we regularly encourage staff in meetings, in individual conversations, and in staff memos.”
 
Durant Road Middle School principal Bob Smith says teachers continue to pursue National Board certification because they see it as a way of continuing their professional development. 

“With the large number of teachers earning certification at Durant Road, they know they will have a solid support network to help them through the process,” said Smith. “We encourage students and teachers alike to be lifelong learners.  We forward all National Board Certified Teachers’ information along in a timely manner and allow individuals time to follow up on the information. The school in general and students in particular benefit due to the fact that the teachers going through the process really take a reflective look at their instruction and the planning that is involved in creating exemplary lessons.”
 
Salem Middle principal Allen Ellzey says Professional Learning Teams have served as the catalyst for teachers wanting to become nationally certified.

“We encourage our teachers to become empowered teacher/leaders and that lends itself to professional development,” said Ellzey. “We have added two more this year and several others are in the process of earning certification.”

Davis Drive Elementary principal Pat Andrews says Davis Drive teachers are encouraged to apply for National Board Certification after they have taught four years. 

“We suggest that they have a co-worker do it with them so they can support one another and meet on a regular basis,” said Andrews. “We use the in-house teachers that have received National Board Certification to informally coach those who are going through the process.  We also permit them to leave school as soon as their duties are completed to work on their submission.”
 
Certification is symbol of excellence
National Board certification is the most accepted symbol of teaching excellence in the US. To earn certification, teachers must demonstrate teaching practice, content knowledge and professional growth through submission of portfolio entries and on a computerized assessment. Impact on student learning is the basis of all components of this certification.

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