National Board Certification Overview

National Board candidates demonstrate academic excellence through a rigorous certification process, and are among Washington's top teachers.National Board Certification (NBC) is an advanced teaching credential and a challenging professional development experience offered by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). NBC is a voluntary certification system based on high and rigorous standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do, and consists of an innovative two-part portfolio and assessment center process that spans several months.
 
The Washington Legislature, as well as select individual school districts, recognize the unique professional development value of NBC and have provided incentives, support and recognition for teachers who seek certification. Click here to see a list of the current district supports and incentives that are available. WEA continues to believe that subsidized fee payment ($2,300 per candidate) is crucial as a way to encourage educators to go through this rewarding process. Release time, mentoring and support are other options that districts and state policymakers can offer to provide support during the process.
 
Teachers report that National Board assessments are challenging and time consuming, but they provide a unique form of professional development that improves teaching practice. National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) frequently say that the process has helped them to become better teachers.
NEW! Washington Mutual has generously provided $200,000 for public school teachers seeking certification during the 2004-05 school year. Scholarship applicants must teach in schools where over 50% of the student population receives free or reduced lunch. Follow this link for additional information - http://www.nbpts.org/candidates/availscholar.cfm

Learn more about National Board Certification!

The WEA has created a Speakers’ Bureau of National Board Certified Teachers available to make presentations for local associations, schools and school districts. They can talk about the process of National Board Certification and tell what it was like for them to go through this rigorous assessment of their teaching practice. They can also explain the Washington Initiative for National Board Teacher Certification – the program that will pay $1,150 of the $2,300 application fee for 50 Washington teachers in the 2004-05 school year. Click here to contact a member of the Speakers’ Bureau near you, or call Jim Meadows at 253-765-7102 or 1-800-622-3393, x7102, or via email at jmeadows@washingtonea.org for more information.

 

Washington State National Board Contacts

Jim Meadows, Instructional Specialist
WEA Learning & Education Policy Center
PO Box 9100
Federal Way, WA 98063
Phone: 253-765-7102 or 800-622-3393
Fax: 253-946-4735
Email: jmeadows@washingtonea.org

 Terese Emry, Coordinator
OSPI/WA Initiative for National Board
457 SW 148th Street, Suite 207
Burien, WA 98166
Phone: 206-444-2934 or 877-833-0931
Fax: 206-444-2940
Email: temry@ospi.wednet.edu
   
Debra Pastore, Director
WSU Washington Initiative
Box 642114 - NBPTS
Pullman, WA 99164-2114
Phone: 509-335-7475
Fax: 509-335-2097
Email: dpastore@mail.wsu.edu		 Julie Kang
UW Teacher Education Program
211 G Miller MS 353600
Seattle, WA 98195-3600
Phone: 206-543-5786
Fax: 206-221-3296
Email: sonjulie@u.washington.edu
   
Rick Phillips, Associate Professor
EWU Department of Education
312 Williamson Hall, MS-90, 526 5th Street
Cheney, WA 99004-2431
Phone: 509-359-2207
Fax: 509-359-2899
Email: rickphillips.eagle@SISNA.com
 Mary Jo Larsen
PLU School of Education
Tacoma, WA 98447-0003
Phone: 253-535-8378
Fax: 253-535-7184
Email: profdev@plu.edu
   
Victor Nolet, Director
WWU Office of Research & Evaluation
251 F Miller Hall
Bellingham, WA 98225-9090
Phone: 360-676-2701
Fax: 360-650-6472
Email: vnolet@wwu.edu		 Steven Schmitz, Coordinator
Central Washington University
400 S University Way
Ellensburg, WA 98926-7415
Telephone: 509-963-1425
Fax: 509-963-1049
E-mail: schmitzs@cwu.edu

 

 
Related Links
 
 
 

We welcome your questions or comments. E-mail Jim Meadows, WEA Instruction & Certification Specialist.