Find Out More About NBC Teacher Katherine Wright Knight

This profile is one in a series that focuses on NEA members who have achieved National Board Certification (NBC). In the profiles, certified teachers talk about the process and how it has affected their practice.

Katherine Wright Knight is a secondary English teacher in Little Rock, Arkansas. And a mentor to student teachers from four institutions of higher education. And she currently serves as secretary-treasurer of Arkansas Education Association. An enthusiastic proponent of NBC, she was one of the first teachers in central Arkansas to earn certification in adolescent/young adult English language arts.

Here is how Knight described her experience with the National Board Certification process.

Why did you pursue National Board Certification (NBC)?
I had been aware of NBC for a number of years, and my interest increased as I waited for NBPTS to offer certification in my area (secondary English). When it became available, I was very excited. I couldn’t think of anything that I wanted to do more.

I tried hard to get several friends in my district, the Little Rock School District, to join me in my enthusiasm. I was only able to convince one, my kindergarten friend, Lou Ethel Nauden, that this was a great adventure and the chance of a lifetime. We could become better teachers and explore new possibilities. I have always enjoyed a challenge and it was very important to me professionally to become board certified.

What was the National Board Certification experience like?
It was an experience that I shall never forget. I learned so much about myself as a teacher and about what I was doing well and what areas needed strengthening. Discovery of one's own flaws is a true awakening.

I spent hours reading, writing, and revising. Making decisions about what instructional goals and lessons to focus on was most difficult. I am innovative in the classroom and had too much material from which to choose. I had been videotaping my students and myself for years, so selecting one video was difficult. Scrutinizing myself from video or audiotape was easy. Writing about it is not nearly as comfortable.

What were the high and low points? 
The lowest point was not making it the first time. Other low points were when people tried to discourage me.

I was sometimes disappointed in myself if I was unclear about what direction to take. I didn’t have anyone to collaborate with except my kindergarten friend. No one in my district, or even nearby, was board certified. I teach collaboration and the Slavin Model of Cooperative Learning. I couldn’t cooperate or collaborate. I had to be my own critic.  

Was it worth it?
Absolutely! It means a great deal to me professionally and personally. I would do it again. There were some unexpected challenges in my field -- the long reading lists, the study of opera, art, and photography. I now see Carmen differently. I recognize Degas and his work, and I know much more about Civil War photography and how it records the history. It was valuable new learning for me and I continue to share my experiences with others -- students and staff.

Did the process impact your teaching?
More than you can imagine. I thought I was a good teacher. I am much better because of National Board Certification.

I think through everything more carefully. If it doesn’t have significant impact on student learning, I don’t do it. I evaluate whether my strategies have more impact with or without the creative idea. I do even more reflection. As a result my students learn more.

Has it affected your role as a state leader?
Yes, definitely. I am currently serving as secretary-treasurer of the Arkansas Education Association. My role as immediate past Little Rock Teacher of the Year was made possible because of NBC. Despite all the other credits attached to my name year after year, I had never been nominated or selected. I was one of the first two board-certified teachers in my district. I used NBC as a part of my campaign to promote the idea that leaders in the Association can also be leaders in classroom instruction.

My selection as Arkansas Teacher of the Year has allowed me to promote the Association and NBC. I think people probably are getting tired of me trying to encourage them to become NBCTs.

It is an asset to me, to my local (where I served as president for two years), and to my school and my state. People say they are proud of me and of what I have accomplished. They are pleased that I advocate for them, and that I try to demonstrate the best of what teachers and educators can be.

I believe that as a leader at the school, local, state, and national levels, I must model good teaching. This promotes membership and belief in the purpose of the unified education profession.

I am National Board Certified and proud of it. I share my experiences whenever the opportunity presents itself.

What do you say to NEA members in Arkansas who contemplate NBC?
"Try it. You’ll like it." I believe that this process is the best professional development that I have experienced. Other NBCTs say the same thing about the learning experience.

I tell them that it provides an advantage for them because they learn more about themselves and about teaching and learning. I say, "This is a great opportunity for you and for your students. Seriously think about how you can improve."

I don’t say much about the stipend in Arkansas. It is not a selling point.

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Katherine Wright Knight teaches ninth and tenth grade English at Parkview Arts/Science Magnet School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Knight adopted the Slavin model of cooperative learning in her classroom and is a certified trainer and statewide consultant. Other awards include her selection as the 2002 Little Rock School District Teacher of the Year and as the 2002 national recipient of The NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence, which recognizes excellence in teaching and advocacy for the profession.

Other Profiles of National Board Certified Teachers

» NBC Brings New Leadership Roles  -- Teacher Tom White enjoys the challenges. (Washington)

» NBC: An Opportunity to Give Back to the Community -- Read about NBC Teacher Julie Hutcheson-Downwind. (Minnesota) 

» More Meaningful Than Master's Degree Work -- Read about National Board Certified teacher Barbara Grogg. (Delaware)

» Certification Was Pivotal Point in Her Career -- Find out more about National Board Certified teacher Linda Edwards. (Colorado)

» Profiles in National Board Certification -- Meet Rhonda Hale -- Teacher, mentor, and local prez. (Kentucky)
 

Related Links

» Award for Teaching Excellence -- Katherine Wright Knight is the 2002 Recipient of the NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence.

» National Board Certification -- Earning an advanced teaching credential.

» National Board of Professional Teaching Standards -- Information about the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) and the National Board Certification (NBC) process.

»  Online Service for NBC Support Providers -- Information for those who support National Board Certification candidates.

» Preparing for National Board Certification? -- Hints from National Board certified teachers. 

» National Board Certification Resources -- A list of links to information about the various aspects of National Board Certification.

Read About National Board Certified Teacher Barbara Grogg

This profile is one in a series that focuses on NEA members who have achieved National Board Certification. In the profiles, certified teachers talk about the process and how it has affected their practice.

Barbara Grogg, a fourth grade teacher in New Castle, Delaware, is the first National Board Certified teacher to be elected state president (Delaware State Education Association, DSEA). Grogg is currently taking leave -- after 34 years in the classroom -- to fulfill her duties as president.

Here is how Grogg described her experience with the National Board Certification process.

Why did you pursue National Board Certification?
I have a very close friend who went through the process. She asked me to comment on her plan of attack for her work, discuss with her ways to complete the requirement, and read what she was submitting. She is an excellent teacher and she inspired -- and cajoled -- me into pursuing certification too.

I also wanted validation that I was doing the right things for my students. After more than thirty years of teaching, and very little affirmation of my competence, this was important to me. No one else, during my career, ever asked me the questions about my practice and my knowledge of kids -- I loved someone wanting to know about my thinking, the successes I was having as well as the (a few) failures.

What was the experience like? What were the high and low points? Was it worth it?
The National Board Certification experience was amazing. I learned so much about myself. I had to think about all the reasons for the things that I do automatically after years of teaching. I focused on my students as individuals, in aggregated groups, and as a class.

The most difficult thing for me was gathering the confidence in myself to push forward through the process. I think two things kept me going: (1) the need for recognition that what I had been doing and learning to do all of my career was good for students -- there is so little encouragement that you are doing a good job and that what we do makes a difference and so much public opinion that is negative -- and (2) the inner need to accomplish this important challenge as a teacher.

I feel like the National Board Certification was actually more meaningful than completing my master's degree work. It was intense and required much more self-reflection.

It did take over my life until everything was finally completed and mailed off, which was a "hurts so good" experience. It was difficult and challenging and time consuming -- and the best professional development project I have ever taken on.

It was worth it -- first, because I needed to prove to myself that I could do it, and, second, because it gives me another dimension of recognition that I can use in my work supporting teachers and the amazing jobs they do every day.

Did the process impact your career?
As president of the Delaware State Education Association, I have many opportunities to help educators in their efforts to improve student achievement. Groups outside the association look at National Board Certified teachers a little differently. We get a little more recognition. I enjoy being able to use this accomplishment to get people -- who might not otherwise listen -- to hear me when I discuss the important issues that teachers are facing today.

What do you say to NEA members in Delaware who contemplate NBC?
To any potential NBC candidate in Delaware, I say go for it! It is a wonderful learning experience that you will not find in any other place. It will help you know yourself, your practice, and your students better. It will make you feel prouder than ever to be a teacher.

I would also tell them that our state has a very strong support system for candidates. DSEA partners with Delaware's Department of Education to provide a support group made up of National Board Certified teachers. This group meets regularly with candidates to help them through the process, to provide insights into what is expected, and to encourage them through the toughest times when they are doubting their own abilities. 

This group pairs candidates with NBCTs and provides mentoring that includes everything from what type of microphone to use in your tapings and where to find one -- to packing up and mailing off the finished product. 

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Barbara Grogg has taught school for 34 years, 31 of them in the Colonial School District in Delaware. She has received many honors over the years, including: Colonial School District's Teacher of the Year, local association vice president and president for the Colonial Education Association, member of Phi Delta Kappa, and member of the Delaware Professional Standards Board. She earned her national board certification in Middle Childhood/Generalist (teaching students ages 7-12).

Other Profiles of National Board Certified Teachers

» NBC Brings New Leadership Roles  -- Teacher Tom White enjoys the challenges. (Washington)

»  NBC: An Opportunity to Give Back to the Community -- Read about NBC Teacher Julie Hutcheson-Downwind. (Minnesota) 

» A Great Adventure and the Chance of a Lifetime -- Find out more about NBC teacher Katherine Wright Knight. (Arkansas)

» Certification Was Pivotal Point in Her Career -- Find out more about National Board Certified Teacher Linda Edwards. (Colorado)

» Profiles in National Board Certification -- Meet Rhonda Hale -- Teacher, Mentor, and Local Prez. (Kentucky)

Related Links

» National Board Certification -- Earning an advanced teaching credential.   

» National Board of Professional Teaching Standards -- Information about the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) and the National Board Certification (NBC) process. 

»  Online Service for NBC Support Providers -- Information for those who support National Board Certification candidates. 

» Preparing for National Board Certification?  -- Hints from National Board certified teachers.    

» National Board Certification Resources -- A list of links to information about the various aspects of National Board Certification.

Julie Hutcheson-Downwind Began the Certification Process in Her Fourth Year of Teaching

This profile is one in a series that focuses on NEA members who have achieved National Board Certification. In the profiles, certified teachers talk about the process and how it has affected their practice.

Julie Hutcheson-Downwind is a kindergarten teacher at John A. Johnson Achievement Plus Elementary School in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 1997, she was a finalist for Minnesota Teacher of the Year and in 1998 she won the Eagle Award, for outstanding contributions to the St. Paul American Indian community. Hutcheson-Downwind's certification is in early childhood generalist.

Here is how Hutcheson-Downwind described her experience with the National Board Certification process.

Why did you pursue National Board Certification?
I was in my fourth year of teaching and really did not find satisfaction or validation with the existing principal evaluation procedures. To me, three 15-minute observations per year did not provide much insight into my strengths and areas needing improvement. I really wanted a way to compare my teaching to that of experienced professionals teaching students of the same age in the same content area. A colleague gave me a copy of the National Board standards. After studying them, I decided to pursue certification.

What did you think about the National Board standards when you first read them?
I felt that they were exactly what I was looking for -- not prescriptive, but descriptive of accomplished teaching. Knowing that the standards were written by teachers in the field, I felt that they were authentic and of the highest quality. I felt that I finally had a "road map" to get to be the teacher I wanted to be.

What about the assessment process was memorable? Was it difficult?
The most memorable part of the assessment process was meeting and working with so many wonderful teachers. In St. Paul, I was part of a cohort of teachers going through the process. We had the assistance of a facilitator and a group of NBCTs from the previous year. Through collaboration with colleagues, we examined our practice and studied the standards. I found this feedback to be extremely helpful in improving my teaching. They could easily identify strengths and areas needing improvement because they knew exactly what to look for.

It was difficult. Anyone who commits to this process is taking a risk and is opening up to self-examination and examination by others. Nevertheless, I feel that improvement occurs wherever the National Board standards are examined. It is not the final result -- whether a teacher is National Board certified or not -- it is participating in the process that brings forth improvement and accomplished teaching.

Do you think your teaching practice was affected by your participation? If so, how?
My practice was definitely improved by the process. I took time to reflect on what was working and what was not. I was able to gather feedback on my portfolio from other professionals, from both teachers in the field and teacher educators. I kept the strategies that were effective and I replaced those that were not.

How did achieving National Board Certification affect you? Your job or career?
National Board certification has provided me an opportunity to serve on many local, state, and national committees representing classroom teachers. I have been able to participate in conferences working with other teachers from across the country. I have been asked to speak to many different groups about my views on teaching and education. Also, I have been fortunate to work with other NBCTs and teachers pursuing National Board certification.

I taught at an American Indian Magnet School that had a specialized curriculum for Native children, incorporating Native languages and culture into the literacy block. Much of this curriculum was demonstrated in my videos and student work. The National Board process was a wonderful venue to demonstrate this type of teaching because the National Board standards and process are open to different teaching contexts and cultures.

The American Indian community in St. Paul, Minnesota, celebrates the achievement and successes of individuals. It is empowering for the community when individuals take risks and improve themselves professionally, personally, culturally. The community celebrates education because it benefits our children and improves our people's future. Achieving a higher education degree or a credential like National Board Certification provides the opportunity to give back to the community. Going through this process, I felt the support of my family, extended family, and community. They helped where they could and always offered support and encouragement.

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Julie Hutcheson-Downwind is a kindergarten teacher at John A. Johnson Achievement Plus Elementary School in St. Paul, Minnesota. The school is part of a public-private partnership that focuses on raising student achievement as well as providing students' families with school, recreation, and community services in one convenient location. In addition, Hutcheson-Downwind serves as an Adjunct Professor at the College of St. Catherine, the nation’s largest Catholic college for women, also in St. Paul.

Article by Julie Hutcheson-Downwind

» Board Certified -- How a novice became a master teacher with a little help from her friends. In the May 2005 NEA Today.

Other Profiles of National Board Certified Teachers

»  NBC Brings New Leadership Roles  -- Teacher Tom White enjoys the challenges. (Washington)

» A Great Adventure and the Chance of a Lifetime -- Find out more about NBC teacher Katherine Wright Knight. (Arkansas)

» More Meaningful Than Master's Degree Work -- Read about National Board Certified teacher Barbara Grogg. (Delaware)

» Certification Was Pivotal Point in Her Career -- Find out more about National Board Certified teacher Linda Edwards. (Colorado)

» Profiles in National Board Certification-- Meet Rhonda Hale -- Teacher, mentor, and local prez. (Kentucky)

Related Links

» National Board Certification -- Earning an advanced teaching credential.

» National Board of Professional Teaching Standards -- Information about the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) and the National Board Certification (NBC) process.

» Online Service for NBC Support Providers -- Information for those who support National Board Certification candidates.

» Preparing for National Board Certification?  -- Hints from National Board certified teachers.    

» National Board Certification Resources -- A list of links to information about the various aspects of National Board Certification.

Teacher Tom White Enjoys the Challenges

This profile is one in a series that focuses on NEA members who have achieved National Board Certification. In the profiles, certified teachers talk about the process and how it has affected their practice.

Tom White is a third and fourth grade teacher at Lynnwood Intermediate School in Lynnwood, Washington. He achieved National Board Certification in 2000 in middle childhood generalist and since then has become involved in the state National Board Certified Teacher community, adding to his growth as a professional educator. He currently facilitates a group of teachers seeking National Board Certification.

Here is how White described his experience with the National Board Certification process.

Why did you pursue National Board Certification?
I was at a place in my career where I was looking for an additional challenge, but I didn't want to go into administration. I saw National Board certification as a way to strengthen my skills as a teacher and deepen my understanding of what contributes to student learning.

What was the process like for you?   What was the most challenging aspect?  The most surprising?
It was intense. It took a lot more time than I thought it would take. While completing the portfolio, I was challenged to think more deeply than ever about what I do as a teacher, why I do it, and how it affects student learning. I was a competent teacher before I started, but I became a much more reflective teacher as a result of the process. The most surprising result of completing my certification was the extent to which I have become involved in teacher leadership activities. Since certifying, I have seen that my role as a teacher extends beyond the classroom. I have become involved in my local and state education association, assisted other National Board candidates, and most recently, accepted a position on the NCATE Board of Examiners.

Would you say that your teaching practice was affected by going through the National Board Certification process?   If so, how, exactly?
I have become far more reflective. I look at what I do in terms of how it affects student learning to a far greater degree than I did before certifying. I'm also more selective when choosing curriculum and learning activities, which I believe has led to greater student achievement.

What do you think the Association's role is with respect to NBC?
I am extremely proud that the Association has supported the National Board since it began nearly twenty years ago. I think the Association's support represents a strong commitment to meaningful professional development, effective teaching, and student learning. I think the Association needs to continue to support candidates who are pursuing certification and to recognize the efforts and commitment of those who complete the process. I also think the Association should recruit National Board Certified Teachers to positions of leadership at the local, state, and national level, drawing upon their classroom expertise and leadership skills.

What do you say to other teachers in Washington when they tell you they are considering National Board Certification?
I make sure they know what they're getting into! I also make sure they realize what an enormous lift the experience will be to their career and how much it will improve their ability to teach. I also strongly encourage them to seek support from a facilitated cohort group. The Washington Education Association has really taken the lead in our state, supporting candidates in a variety of ways.

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Tom White is a third and fourth grade teacher at Lynnwood Intermediate School in Lynnwood, Washington. He regularly mentors new teachers in his building and also works with experienced teachers who seek his help. He is an outspoken advocate of education and the Association and enjoys leadership roles in both.

Other Profiles of National Board Certified Teachers

» NBC: An Opportunity to Give Back to the Community -- Read about NBC Teacher Julie Hutcheson-Downwind. (Minnesota) 

» A Great Adventure and the Chance of a Lifetime -- Find out more about NBC teacher Katherine Wright Knight. (Arkansas)

» More Meaningful Than Master's Degree Work -- Read about National Board Certified teacher Barbara Grogg. (Delaware)

» Certification Was Pivotal Point in Her Career -- Find out more about National Board Certified teacher Linda Edwards. (Colorado)

» Profiles in National Board Certification -- Meet Rhonda Hale -- Teacher, mentor, and local prez. (Kentucky)

Related Links

» The Washington Initiative for National Board Teacher Certification -- Supports candidates with scholarships and connections to university faculty and National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs).

» National Board Certification -- Earning an advanced teaching credential.

» National Board of Professional Teaching Standards -- Information about the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) and the National Board Certification (NBC) process.

Find Out More About National Board Certified Teacher Linda Edwards
 

This profile is one in a series that focuses on NEA members who have achieved National Board Certification. In the profiles, certified teachers talk about the process and how it has affected their practice.

Linda Edwards, an elementary and middle school teacher for 25 years in Lewistown, Montana, is the first National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) to join an association staff. She is currently the director of Teaching and Learning for the Colorado Education Association, where she coordinates the program on National Board Certification.

Here is how Edwards described her experience with the National Board Certification process.

What was the National Board Certification (NBC) experience like?
The NBC process was like nothing I had ever experienced in my teaching career. I both loved and hated the constant self-questioning and re-evaluating.

The process includes a series of questions that help you demonstrate your practices, your theories about how students learn, and the ways you monitor student learning of required content. The questions also help you analyze and re-evaluate your teaching (which often leads to an unexpected revision of teaching methods).

The process is like a roller coaster ride. You soar at the top when an entry is completed. You've given it your all for that content area and you're ready to tackle the next entry. Then you scream all the way down the track as the analysis, reflection, and lesson design start all over again.

Yet, it's the best professional development process I have ever undertaken. It directly impacted my instruction and how I analyze student growth and it caused me to add reflection to every part of the instructional day.

Why did you pursue National Board Certification?
I wanted to validate the educational practices I used in my classroom.  I was confident in the decisions I'd made based on my own action research and now I wanted to put my professional judgments to the tests of the National Board.

Also, as a member of the Governor’s Education Task Force encouraging teachers to go through a national certification process, I knew I could better fulfill this commitment by undergoing the certification process myself.

And, it offered a way for me to highlight the importance of National Board Certification within my peer group -- teachers with many years of experience.

Did the process impact your teaching? Impact anything else?
The process confirmed that my theories and practices were aligned with national standards, and it helped me understand three things:

• Why my methodologies were appropriate
• The rationale for why I did what I did
• How lessons must be changed to meet the emerging needs of my students.

My students were my partners in this process. They were fully aware that I was a learner as well as a teacher (They liked the idea that their teacher had homework!). Videotaping was their favorite part. They took the process as seriously as I did, and we bonded as equals in the learning process, as well as in classroom design.

This was the first time in 23 years of teaching that I had had to prepare a portfolio of my teaching practice in specific content areas as well as documented evidence of parental involvement and professional activities.

How has becoming an NBCT affected your Association leadership?
I hadn’t thought beyond receiving the results.  My focus has always been to improve instruction. But achieving NBC proved to be a pivotal point in my professional life.

After attaining certification, I was often asked to help people in Montana and surrounding states get the certification process going in their districts. I came under some criticism from colleagues for my time spent out of the classroom, but the experiences helped push me toward the next step in my career. 

It was important for me to demonstrate how the National Board process makes teachers better at their craft, and thereby improves our profession. And I wanted to help expand the program. 

As a trained facilitator for NBC, I was able to continue my close involvement in the process and assist other NBCT candidates. As the candidates questioned, analyzed, and refined their teaching practices, I continued to refine my own teaching skills and further my own professional development.

It was as an NBC facilitator that the career change evolved.  I had taught for 25 years, was working on my Administrative endorsement, and loved working with colleagues on professional development.  While working with a neighboring state’s first group of NBC candidates, I met the director of Professional Development. That generated a conversation and a thought process that led to an opportunity to continue the work for the national board process on a statewide effort.

While my first love has always been teaching, success with the NBC process has opened the door for my second love, helping teachers succeed in the classroom and as professionals. The Colorado Education Association’s focus on teaching and learning has enabled me to combine both loves. The professional development process continues.

What would you say to others about NBC?
If you are considering National Board Certification, I say, "Go for it!"  It’s the best professional development opportunity that truly impacts classroom instruction.

I have met several teachers who missed certification on the first try, who smile from ear to ear when they talk about how much they learned as they refined their portfolios or geared up for the assessment exercises. 

I recently talked with a young teacher who has mapped out a three-year plan to achieve certification, a time frame that makes sense given the demands on teacher time and other professional activities.  

The question I’m asked the most regarding the NBC process is "Why should I?" To help them decide, teachers can use one of several checklists to assess their readiness for certification, but in my opinion, it’s really a matter of the heart.

I say to all teachers --
If you are committed to the profession and ready to measure your practices against national standards as a way to improve your craft, then National Board Certification is for you!

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Linda Edwards is the director of Teacher and Learning at the Colorado Education Association (CEA), where she coordinates the CEA program on National Board Certification. Prior to joining CEA, Edwards taught elementary and middle school for 25 years in Lewistown School District #1 in Montana. During those years, she received numerous awards for teacher leadership and was selected Montana Teacher of the Year in 1993. She earned National Board Certification-Early Childhood Generalist in 1998.

Other Profiles of National Board Certified Teachers

» NBC Brings New Leadership Roles -- Teacher Tom White enjoys the challenges. (Washington)

» NBC: An Opportunity to Give Back to the Community -- Read about NBC Teacher Julie Hutcheson-Downwind. (Minnesota) 

» A Great Adventure and the Chance of a Lifetime -- Find out more about NBC teacher Katherine Wright Knight. (Arkansas)

» More Meaningful Than Master's Degree Work -- Says National Board Certified Teacher Barbara Grogg. (Delaware)

» Profiles in National Board Certification -- Meet Rhonda Hale -- Teacher, mentor, and local prez. (Kentucky)

Related Links

» National Board Certification -- Earning an advanced teaching credential.   

» National Board of Professional Teaching Standards -- Information about the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) and the National Board Certification (NBC) process. 

» Online Service for NBC Support Providers -- Information for those who support National Board Certification candidates. 

» Preparing for National Board Certification?  -- Hints from National Board certified teachers.    

» National Board Certification Resources -- A list of links to information about the various aspects of National Board Certification.

Meet Rhonda Hale - Teacher, Mentor, Local Prez
 

This profile is one in a series that focuses on NEA members who have achieved National Board Certification. In the profiles, certified teachers answer questions about the process and how it has affected their practice.

Rhonda Hale of Prospect, Kentucky, doesn't let any blue grass grow under her feet. She just keeps on meeting challenges and stacking up awards. In 2000 -- when Hale was both a middle school teacher and the local association president -- she added National Board

Certification to her list of accomplishments. Here is how Hale described the experience.

Why did you pursue National Board Certification?
I had not considered National Board Certification (NBC) as a professional goal -- until my district became a pilot site for an NBC initiative in Kentucky.

The state was looking for ways to compensate teachers for their knowledge and pedagogical skills. They selected NBC, because it is the most rigorous process for teacher certification tied to student learning and it is research based. Our district was selected as the pilot group for the state.

I decided to go through the NBC process during the pilot stage to see how it would compare to my Masters and Rank I experiences. And I wanted to experience firsthand what we were asking our teachers to embrace.

What was it like? Difficult? In what ways?
The year I started the certification process was a time of great personal and professional change. I had taught elementary school for 27 years and needed a change, so I took a middle school position in my district. I began teaching social studies to sixth graders on a block schedule in a different school with new curriculum. 

Any one of these changes would have presented a challenge, so going through the certification process made for an even tougher year. I was also serving as the vice-president of my local association, which serves nine counties and several independent schools. When our presiding president passed away, I assumed the role of president, adding to my leadership responsibilities. It was an intense, challenging time. Yet, it was the perfect time to look at my practice because of the changes I was experiencing in the workplace. 

Waiting patiently for the results of the yearlong effort was probably one of the most difficult parts of the certification experience. 

Did the process impact your teaching?   Impact anything else?
Absolutely! The process impacted not only my daily practice of teaching, but also every part of how I think as an educator. I think about my practice in a deeper way and I take the time to reflect daily on why I teach the way I do. 

I'm constantly thinking about making the classroom more conducive to learning and motivating students to take some ownership of their learning. I've always understood the importance of setting appropriate goals for students and moving them toward identified goals, but now I'm even more conscientious about the process of setting goals to help students experience optimum growth and learning.

Being a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) does get you some recognition. Colleagues look at "board certified" teachers in a different way. Late one afternoon, I noticed a colleague watching me from the hallway. I asked if I could help her and she replied, "I just wanted to see what a National Board teacher looks like." While visiting another school, I noticed a list of NBCT displayed in the teacher work area.

How has becoming an NBCT affected your Association leadership?
It has enhanced my leadership potential and my resolve to give back to the profession.

I have served the Association in many capacities over the years. Membership has afforded me some of the most valuable experiences in professional development. It has allowed me to become better at helping others both inside and outside the schoolhouse. It has allowed me to work with colleagues at the local, district, state, and national levels. Support I've received from both NEA staff (grants) and KEA staff has enabled me to help candidates as they work through the National Board process.      

What would you say to others about NBC?
National Board Certification is one of several ways educators can move their practice to a higher level. The process does not suit every educator, but it has been worthwhile for me. It is a rigorous process and not without challenges; but challenges, whether personal or professional, present opportunities for growth. 

The experience has afforded me opportunities that no other professional activity has. The most worthwhile benefit is one I never expected. I learned a great deal about the person I am, and the kind of professional I want to be. And that kind of knowledge is priceless!

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Rhonda Hale teaches sixth grade social studies at North Oldham Middle School in Oldham County, Kentucky. In her 30 years of teaching, she has won many grants and accolades. She has won grants for both environmental education and the arts in education. Her county named her Elementary Teacher of the Year and Conservation Teacher of the Year, and in 2002, her school named her Middle School Teacher of the Year.

Since becoming certified as a Middle Childhood Generalist in 2000, Hale has served the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards as a delegate to Australia and New Zealand, as an assessor and scorer of portfolio entries, and as a mentor for candidates in Kentucky. She served as president of the Kentucky Association for National Board Certified Teachers during the 2002-2003 school year, and she will serve on its board during the coming year.

Other Profiles of National Board Certified Teachers

» NBC Brings New Leadership Roles  -- Teacher Tom White enjoys the challenges. (Washington)

» NBC: An Opportunity to Give Back to the Community -- Read about NBC Teacher Julie Hutcheson-Downwind. (Minnesota) 

» A Great Adventure and the Chance of a Lifetime -- Find out more about NBC teacher Katherine Wright Knight. (Arkansas)

» More Meaningful Than Master's Degree Work -- Says National Board Certified Teacher Barbara Grogg. (Delaware)

» Certification Was Pivotal Point in Her Career -- Says National Board Certified Teacher Linda Edwards. (Colorado)

Related Links

» National Board Certification -- Earning an advanced teaching credential.   

» National Board of Professional Teaching Standards -- Information about the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) and the National Board Certification (NBC) process. 

»  Online Service for NBC Support Providers -- Information for those who support National Board Certification candidates. 

» Preparing for National Board Certification? -- Hints from National Board certified teachers.   

» National Board Certification Resources -- A list of links to information about the various aspects of National Board Certification.