This page contains thoughts, tidbits, and posts from my recent National Boards Journey (results will be out later this year). The culture of National Boards (NB) is giving back to the next group of candidates. In the spirit of the same guidance and mentoring I received, I will share some of my insights (and humor) on the process!
6 Steps to Getting Started with Your National Boards
(Please note: This post contains some affiliate links)
1. Check Your Eligibility
Make sure you are eligible for your National Boards. The National Boards for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) is specific about who is eligible.
Check their guidance here: http://boardcertifiedteachers.org/first-time-candidates
If in doubt, call them at 1-800-22TEACH (note the hours of call center listed on this page): http://boardcertifiedteachers.org/contact-us
2. Determine Your Certificate (First-time candidates)
This seems simple, but for some of us, it isn’t. I work with students age 3-adult. I have two Master’s Degrees, teaching experience across all grade levels, and experience on two continents. How do I know which National Boards Certificate I should pursue?
First, National Board offers specific guidance. Make sure you read the requirements to see if you are eligible.
Second, consider all factors when selecting the certificate that is right for you. My other area of specialty is English Secondary Education. While more of my credentials are with secondary education, I had to consider my current and future teaching situation when selecting the right certificate. At the time I had to make my decision, my ELL numbers at the secondary schools I taught were declining or exiting services. I needed to focus on the area where I would have the most student access. That helped me select the early childhood-adolescent certificate.
Consider your students, your classes, and your teaching load. If you are in a teaching position that could change from year to year (as mine does), you need to have an open and honest conversation with your administrator and their support for your National Boards journey.
3. Download/Print Your Standards
They are big files. Summer is the perfect time to burn through more ink. Your printer is feeling lonely and rejected. Go ahead. Hit print. You won’t regret it.
4. Read Your Standards
This should be understood since I just advocated you print your standards, but I have run into others working on National Boards who clearly did not read their standards. The standards spell out what a National Board Certified Teacher looks like. They use clear, descriptive language. Become familiar with that language. It will be the language you speak for the rest of your professional career.
In addition, I found the standards to be something that I had to take in chunks. Certain components focus on examining a teacher’s expertise of certain standards. For example: Component three focused on Standards I, II, IV, V, and V for my subject area. When I was in the depths (and I mean depths) of component three, I found myself referring to those standards that the component was assessing. I separated those from the printed bundle and just carried them around for months. Sometimes, I read them during my lunch (sad, I know), and sometimes, I just threw them around my large book bag with disgust. Other times, I found myself reviewing the language of a particular standard as I thought about my writing for that area.
5. Research National Board Support Now
As I write this, I HOPE your district provides support for National Board Candidates. I hope they do. However, a great starting point is this website from NBPTS: http://boardcertifiedteachers.org/in-your-state
The website notes the state-level contact for pursuing NB. When you are on your state NB page, look for links to local/regional NB support.
While summer seems early, find out now about cohort groups, meetings, and the professional support your state offers. We all know that the beginning of the school year starts off with a mad rush. The next time you have a chance to think about all of this you may also be planning the class Halloween party.
Purpose to send out emails this week. Find out now about groups in your district. You may have to travel to a nearby district or a local university. You may have to start one yourself. Don’t go at it alone. Support is part of what makes the National Board Journey so rich. Start checking for cohort meetings and put them in your calendar.
6. Get Organized
I have a whole post to write about getting organized for National Boards, but to summarize:
Get. Organized.
Take your trip to your local office supply store, chain store, or online retailer. Since you have printed your standards, you already have a good stack of papers you need to organize. Whether you need a binder, a box, a bin, a file caddy pick one. Here are some that I used during my NB journey:
Sort it out—now! School will start and it will be busy. If you have all your NB files in one place, then you are ready to go.
Another organization item you need is something to collect NB items in your classroom. Whether it is papers that you may use as student work examples or copies of assessments, if you have a designated basket, file folder, or “go to spot”, your future-self will thank your past-self. Trust me. My NB file pulled me from the fire in late spring when I changed my focus to a different student group for one portion of my component. Sure enough, my designated file had copies of the student work I had thrown in there with a, “Meh, maybe I’ll use that. Maybe not.” As I located the priceless student work, I’m certain I heard the angels singing.
I hope you’ll find these steps give you a concrete direction as you begin your National Board journey. It is worth it.
Let me know if you have other insights to add to the list.
Get your Six Steps for Starting National Boards Checklist Here.
