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Police Reports: Feb. 6, 2015

Vicki Nieto, a third grade teacher at Churchill School in Homewood, addressed the Illinois House Education Committee during a public hearing in Chicago on March 31 to share information on National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification for teachers.

Vicki Nieto (Provided photo)

Legislators wanted to learn how the certification program works and the benefit it has on teachers and their work in the classroom. The state has been financially supporting the work of teachers seeking certification but the state’s fiscal woes may force a reduction of funding.

Nieto is the lead teacher for the Homewood District 153 National Board certification cohort of 10 teachers. The program takes teachers three years to complete. Homewood’s teachers started the process in 2014. They meet every other week. The cohort’s focus this school year has been on assessment and self-reflection.

Other teachers with Nieto in the Homewood cohort are Alison Lincoln, Jaime Herron, Laura Mizrahi-Kozel and Marisa Alborn at Churchill School; Amanda Townsend-Crossley, Anne Wallace and Patti Jo Boehm at Willow School; and MaryAnn Richardson and Tara R. Amin at James Hart Junior High.

It is expected interested District 153 teachers will form a second cohort in the 2015-16 school year.

The National Board was established in 1987. Teachers volunteer to undertake the process for certification. Nieto told the House Education Committee representatives, including Rep. Will Davis (D-Hazel Crest), that National Board certification recognizes teachers who demonstrate accomplished teaching practices as defined by NBPTS. The process is helping teachers assess their teaching methods, as well as adapt curriculum to Common Core.

Homewood teachers seeking certification will be assessed through four portfolio entries and a written assessment. According to the National Board Resource Center, two portfolios must be videotapes of actual lessons, one requires submission of graded student work and the fourth documents ongoing professional learning and leadership. Each portfolio entry requires a 12-page written description and analysis of the evidence submitted for review.

According to the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB), the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) supports National Board certification by paying $2,000 of the $2,565 candidate application fee. A teacher who receives certification can receive up to $6,000 a year to mentor candidates.

A National Board certified teacher can apply for a master teaching certificate and a $3,000 annual stipend from ISBE if they mentor other teachers but continue with at least a 50 percent teaching load.

IASB believes National Board certification creates a win-win situation: districts receive candidate and new teacher support while the state strengthens its teaching force.

The Illinois support system also provides high-quality professional development opportunities. IASB said at no charge to school districts, National Board certified teachers can register for training in Standards Aligned Classroom, Instructional Practices Inventory, or NBCT Induction for the 21st Century Educator.


Contact Marilyn Thomas at [email protected]

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