Special Education Today

29 April 2010

National Board Certified Teacher to be named 2010 National Teacher of the Year

Filed under: National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings, Teachers/ Educators — Maria Angala, NBCT @ 11:53 am
For the third time in the past five years, a National Board Certified Teacher will represent the country as National Teacher of the Year. Sarah Brown Wessling, an English teacher at Johnston High School in Johnston, Iowa, will be named the 2010 National Teacher of the Year by President Barack Obama today at a White House ceremony. Read more


“The National Board Certification process was absolutely instrumental in my experience as a professional educator,” said Wessling, in a February interview with NBPTS. “National Board Certification is crucial because it requires teachers to see students as individuals. The process helps teachers focus on students and discover how they learn. Knowing how a student learns is irreplaceable.”

Wessling is well known for her ability to inspire and challenge her high school students. She begins each academic school year by handing out a copy of Plato’s Parable of the Cave, lighting a candle in the center of the room and asking her students to tell her the course expectations. The practice is done to encourage her students to construct their own learning experience.

Wessling also brings 21st century technology into her classroom. She frequently uses iPod technology to create individual podcasts to grade student papers and says her students benefit from the in-depth feedback she provides. “My students can hear in my voice when I’m recording thoughts about their papers, and they can hear me get excited about their ideas and concepts,” Wessling said. “The podcasts show them that I have thought about them not as students, but as writers.”

Wessling and 18 other NBCTs were named 2010 State Teachers of the Year, including Florida’s Megan Marie Allen, who was among the national finalists.

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Track records of NBCTs and valid research have shown that they can produce rapid improvements in the teaching quality of a school. Because of this, shouldn't we encourage more teachers to take the National Board Certification in high needs schools like DCPS? Smart school districts know this.

It is no secret that the National Board is one of the research based sources where the IMPACT (our evaluation tool) and the Teaching & Learning Framework were taken from (please refer to the IMPACT manuals). I feel that it is not wise to cut off the funding, incentives and supports for the National Board. It is just beyond comprehension why this is happening...

26 April 2010

What qualities define a good teacher?

Filed under: DC Public Schools, Professional Development Trainings, Teachers/ Educators, WTU — Maria Angala, NBCT @ 5:03 pm
Ten Florida educators, including National Board Certified Teachers, who offered their thoughts in this article on what makes a good teacher -- a definition that has been in the spotlight since the state's merit-pay debate began. "Good teachers teach reading, writing, math and technology effectively. Good teachers integrate art, music, social studies and science gracefully. Good teachers possess creativity, flexibility and good time-management skills," one NBCT said.

According to the article, determining who is an outstanding teacher, however, is tricky. Teachers are not factory workers, Reasoner said, who are assessed based on how many gadgets they can assemble per hour, or car salespersons measured by how many deals they broker in a week.

Unlike gadgets, students come in all shapes and sizes, all ability and skill levels. Teachers are charged with guiding every child from Point A, wherever that is on the learning spectrum, to Point B in 180 school days.
I know from experience that becoming a great classroom teacher does not happen overnight, there is no silver bullet, there are no shortcuts. It takes a lot of patience and perseverance, and a rigorous process of research and reflection focused on the best teaching practices and the core propositions of the national teaching standards to become an effective teacher. It requires innovative collaboration (with educators, professionals and education advocates in school, in the school district, across the nation and even globally) and meaningful exchange and discussion of what is working and what is not with their classroom practice that is focused on supporting the child as a whole (not just the academic part).

WHAT THEY SAID

“A good teacher is a facilitator of learning, one who gives out the information and explains things. It’s someone who sees students as a whole person, and tries to address the whole child. They have high expectations, but also compassion.”
— Hana Ahmad, fifth-grade teacher at Orangewood Elementary in Fort Myers and a 2001 Golden Apple award winner.

“How can you measure a teacher that changes a child’s life? He or she may still not earn a high score on a test, but you could have changed the course of their life.”
— Tonya Reasoner, a gifted teacher at Pinewoods Elementary in Estero who has 41 years of teaching experience.

“Good teachers teach reading, writing, math and technology effectively. Good teachers integrate art, music, social studies and science gracefully. Good teachers possess creativity, flexibility and good time-management skills.”
— Helen Valdez-Garcia, an art teacher at Hector A. Cafferata Jr. Elementary in Cape Coral and a National Board Certified teacher.

“You have to be flexible because you never know what will happen on any given day. You have to be fair to all students and be consistent. A good teacher really cares about their students. It’s almost like a motherly instinct.”
— Jeanne Dozier, Lee County School Board member and 1988 national teacher of the year.

“A good teacher makes learning fun. If a kid enjoys school, and connects with a teacher, they are going to perform better.”
— Derrick Donnell, principal at Caloosa Middle and a 1999 Golden Apple award winner.

“It’s about lighting the fire of education in those students that may not believe in themselves, and it’s about showing parents and families the strengths in their children that they may not yet see. It’s late nights of reflecting about how to reach that one child that seems barely beyond reach, yet you know is within your grasp.”
— Megan Allen, a fourth-grade teacher at Cleveland Elementary in Tampa and Florida’s 2010 Teacher of the Year.

NBPTS launches education-policy information hub

Filed under: NCLB/ IDEIA 2004, National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings, Teachers/ Educators — Maria Angala, NBCT @ 4:00 pm
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards recently unveiled an education-policy center on its website. The center is aimed at providing National Board Certified Teachers and other advocates of teaching excellence a platform to learn about policy issues related to NBPTS and education reform. Read more


Education Policy
Now is an exciting time for education reform, with unprecedented opportunities from the federal government. Learn more about how NBPTS is advancing the education reform movement.






Legislation
Track the latest legislative issues; listen to what policymakers, researchers, and other education experts have to say about NBCTs; and learn more about National Board initiatives in the states.






Innovative Practice
Read profiles of schools that have accelerated student learning and achievement. Meet the exemplary educators who take leadership to the next level. Learn more about upcoming or past events!




12 April 2010

Tips for Teachers: Discussing Education Policy

Filed under: DC Public Schools, Professional Development Trainings, WTU — Maria Angala @ 1:57 pm
In preparation for the upcoming Informational Sessions and other meetings with our education policymakers, I would like to share these "Tips for Teachers on Discussing Education Policy" from a team of National Board Certified Teachers working as Teaching Ambassadors to the US Department of Education. We want our meetings with our education policymakers (Union leaders, Central Office administrators, City Council members etc...) to be productive, collaborative and professional.


PREPARE:
Know the issue
- Be ready to present your points succinctly (30 sec, 1 min, 3 min)
- Know the opposition's side and be able to counter them
- Maintain your enthusiasm and sincerity
- Use a sense of humor and the ability to roll with the punches
- Know the people you are talking to and their staff (They can make or break opportunities to speak with their boss)



DURING THE MEETING:
- Address the person properly
- Identify yourself immediately at each contact. If you have a businesscard have it handy.
- Refer to the topic you want to discuss early in the conversation.
- Use your own words.
- Establish your own credentials - why are you an expert on this topic?
- If possible give the person something in writing to which they can refer later.
- If something is said off-the-record always respect that and keep it confidential.
- Follow up in writing, making sure to include your contact information.

CAUTIONS:
- Don't begin your discussion with a threatening language: "As a citizen..."
- Don't apologize for taking up their time. Just be brief and to the point.
- Don't argue or back someone into a corner.
- Don't send copies of a form letter, unless you take the time to include a personal note.

Re: National Board in the WTU-DCPS Tentative Agreement

Filed under: DC Public Schools, National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings, Teachers/ Educators, WTU — Maria Angala @ 11:29 am
I received some comments on my last entry, I emailed my response to my colleagues (several lines edited):

Hello everyone,

Buena lunes! (attempting to learn Spanish *smile*)

I've been getting good responses from the NBCTs about my previous entry on the "National Board in the WTU-DCPS Tentative Agreement"; thank you, please keep it coming. It is good because it served my purpose of keeping you informed and getting your feedback about it. Most of the comments were full of concern about the future funding of the stipends for our aspiring National Board Candidates.

I was wondering the same thing: if the stipend is gone for our future NBCTs after November 1, 2010.

After the WTU General Assembly last week at Mc Kinley SHS on the WTU-DCPS Tentative Agreement, I was rushing to go to the WTU Office for another meeting. A reporter ambushed me and dropped the bomb: "Is it really true that the teachers are just going for the money?" I did not blink and never hesitated to answer, "No, it is not all about the money. The members want teacher focused high quality services so that we can better support and help our students become successful. It's all about our students." And he left.

Colleagues, this is not the end of the road. President George Parker and his contract negotiations team were able to push for three more years of financial incentives for accomplished teaching for NBCTs from 2007-2010. Now we need to assert ourselves and help WTU explain to DCPS why we need to encourage our most effective educators in DCPS to take the National Board Certification, how it has been life changing for us and for our students, present our data of student achievement...we are the experts who understand meaningfully what the teachers should know and be able to do to. We, the National Board Certified Teachers, are knowledgeable on this and can effectively demonstrate this according to the national teaching standards. That's why we need to speak up and let our voice be heard.

I believe that most of us, aside from being teacher leaders, are collaborators. I am setting up a meeting with President George Parker for the National Board Certified Teachers. We are going to work with him to make things happen for our teachers and our students. He has a vision for the NBCTs in DC, we need to hear from him and I am very sure that he will listen to us. And if you are attending any of the Informational Sessions on Tues/ Thurs, please proudly wear your pin, it makes us very distinguished.

We are fighting for the same cause, we need to have one voice. One team, one fight!

Let's keep the fire burning!


Sincerely,

Maria Angala, NBCT (Exceptional Needs Specialist)
WTU Vice President of Special Education

5 April 2010

Role of NBCTs: “Models of Effective Teachers,” Department of Education official says

Filed under: National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings — Maria Angala @ 11:35 am

When describing the role of National Board Certified Teachers in America's schools, NBCT Steven Hicks, a special assistant on early learning with the Department of Education, used the term "models of effective teachers." Hicks and other department officials participated in a webinar hosted by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Thursday night about the Blueprint for Reform, the Obama administration's proposed framework for the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, known in its current form as No Child Left Behind. Read more.

15 January 2010

NBCTs should be rewarded for “going the extra mile”

Filed under: DC Public Schools, National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings — Maria Angala @ 1:52 pm
National Board Certified Teachers should be rewarded for being leaders in their field, according to this blog post from the National School Boards Association that criticizes officials in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere for cutting funding that supports NBCTs. "We know the money isn't the only reason teachers become board-certified, but isn't it fair to pay them for going the extra mile? In any other profession, they would be treated that way," the blog's writer states. BoardBuzz blog

11 January 2010

Teacher certification prestigious but too costly, Rhee says

Filed under: DC Public Schools, National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings, Teachers/ Educators, WTU — Maria Angala @ 1:59 am
I remember Chancellor Rhee saying that "...with a wonderful teacher there is no doubt that all the barriers will be overcome. This is where 100% of our focus is right now" in her Charlie Rose interview in July 2008.
I was very disappointed that Chancellor Rhee discontinued the supports for National Board Certification.
In today's WaPo article Bill Turque writes that according to Chancellor Rhee, "although she considers board certification a valuable form of professional development, it was difficult to justify the annual expenditure of about $600,000 because so few teachers were making it through the process".
Why is there a low number of National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) in DCPS? The same is true in fact in most high-needs schools across the nation. A Teacher Solutions report by 10 National Board Certified Teachers Center for Teaching Quality on the effects of National Board on Advancing 21st Century Teaching and Learning states that:
High-needs schools tend to have much more rigid requirements for curriculum instruction. There is considerably less trust among administrators in teachers' abilities to positively impact student learning. As a result, there is less opportunity for teaches to demonstrate that they can tailor instruction to student needs -- they are not even allowed to do so. It is typical to see scripted curricula and/or rigid, closely monitored pacing guides. All these reduce the amount of time and effort that can be committed to National Board Certification.
Another congressionally-mandated Research shows that the National Board Certification has a positive impact on student achievement, professional development and teacher retention. Even U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan praised the 2009 Class of NBCT's as "an extraordinary group" that has "demonstrated a commitment to taking their teaching practice and the teaching profession to a different level."
Isn't it more detrimental to DCPS that the supports to the National Board Certification was cut?
The report further relates that...

The National Board Certification process should be viewed through the lens of increasing human capital, not strictly from the perspective of short-term costs and benefits. Smart state and local policies will support candidates as they go through the process and then capitalize on the leadership and skills of those who successfully complete it. Once this dynamic environment is created and sustained, we are confident that teaching quality will improve.
I was a struggling teacher before I started out with the National Boards process. Coming from a foreign country with a different educational system, I was in the dark with how to teach the "American way", how to run a classroom and how to give an effective lesson to my students. I wanted to make a difference, my intention was good; what kept me in the classroom was my passion for teaching. Going through the National Board Certification process was life changing not just for me but for my students. It made me a reflective teacher, strengthened my instructional and behavior management skills, and made me a collaborator and a teacher leader. For me these are the qualities that set a good teacher apart from a great teacher.
For me a good teacher teaches content and is compliant with her professional duties. While a great teacher does not only teach, she is not only religious with fulfilling her professional duties as a teacher. A great teacher reaches-out, connects, communicates, and collaborates with the students, their parents, colleagues, the community; she knows how to gather resources and supports to maximize the potentials of each and every student in her classroom; a great teacher consistently reexamines her teaching practices and she learns from her experience.
In my phone conversation with Bill Turque last week, I mentioned to him the technology and financial supports from DCPS during the leadership of Dr. Clifford Janey that helped make the process more convenient for me during my candidacy. I also told him about the National Board Orientation and Professional Development sessions sponsored by The Washington Teachers Union (WTU), and the mentorship from our NBCTs in DCPS in collaboration with the American University and the George Washington University. These things made us teachers, most especially the aspiring candidates, feel valued that the administration is supporting our quest to become great teachers.
I believe that there are many excellent, outstanding, and effective teachers in DCPS that need to be identified and be rewared for the exceptional job that they are doing who need to join the cadre of National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) and be in the forefront as teacher leaders in this education reform.
I can attest to the fact that the National Board Certification helps make good teachers become great teachers.
Isn't this what Chancellor Rhee wants for her teachers? I am hoping that she will reconsider her stand in this matter and decide to support the National Board Certification.

19 December 2009

2009 class of NBCTs advances nation’s school-quality reform movement

Filed under: National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings, Teacher Sol's Lifestory, Teachers/ Educators — Maria Angala @ 1:21 pm
NBPTS continues its progress in advancing the National Board Certification education-reform movement with today's announcement of nearly 8,900 new National Board Certified Teachers. The announcement brings the total number of accomplished teachers and school counselors certified by NBPTS to more than 82,000. An "extraordinary group" is how Secretary of Education Arne Duncan referred to this year's class of National Board Certified Teachers in a September interview with NBPTS. Read more.
“What if every child had a chance to be taught by a National Board Certified Teacher? I think the difference it would make in students’ lives would be extraordinary,” said Secretary Arne Duncan. “As we move forward on this turnaround agenda nationally, I would love for National Board Certified Teachers to be at the forefront of that movement.” Copy that :)
I'm proud to belong to the Class of 2009 NBCTs!

18 December 2009

Arne Duncan calls 2009 National Board Certified Teachers an “extraordinary group”

Filed under: NCLB/ IDEIA 2004, National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings — Maria Angala @ 7:13 am
Secretary Arne Duncan made a visit to my school last Tuesday to see how students are learning using technology.In a video-recorded message, Education Secretary Arne Duncan thanked the teachers who achieved National Board Certification in 2009, calling these accomplished teachers an "extraordinary group."


NBCTs should take on leadership roles, NBPTS president says

Filed under: National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings — Maria Angala @ 7:11 am
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards encourages school districts to give leadership roles to National Board Certified Teachers, according to Joseph Aguerrebere, president of the organization. About 82,000 teachers are certified nationwide. "Our focus is expanding from individuals achieving national board certification to a systemic movement that changes the culture of classrooms, schools and districts by leveraging [certified teachers] to build human capital, especially in high-need schools," Aguerrebere said. The Cincinnati Enquirer

12 December 2009

Don’t stop learning, says NBCT who is Rhode Island Teacher of the Year

Filed under: National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings, Teachers/ Educators — Maria Angala @ 11:25 pm
Middletown High School Spanish teacher Dana E. Ramey is led to the podium by Education Commissioner Deborah A. Gist after he was revealed to be teacher of the year.

A National Board Certified Teacher who makes learning Spanish a cultural experience for his students has been named Teacher of the Year in Rhode Island. Dana E. Ramey says a great teacher has patience, understands students and is a lifelong learner. "Don't stop learning about the subject you teach, and reach beyond the skills you already have," he said. The Providence Journal (R.I.)

3 December 2009

Quality teaching is the answer, not departmentalization

Filed under: National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings, Teachers/ Educators — Maria Angala @ 6:24 am

A National Board Certified Teacher says that it is unclear whether departmentalization for young students -- also known as platooning -- benefits teaching and learning. In this blog post, she writes that having elementary-school teachers specialize in different subjects and moving students to their classrooms can be beneficial. However, research shows that it is the quality of the teacher that matters most. Teacher in a Strange Land

2 December 2009

Joining the NBCTLink

Filed under: DC Public Schools, National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings, Teachers/ Educators — Maria Angala @ 6:09 am
I received the invitation yesterday to join the NBCTLink:
Dear Maria Lourdes Angala,

Congratulations on achieving National Board Certification! The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is happy to welcome you and your fellow National Board Certified Teachers into the new NBCT online community: NBCTLink.
NBCTLink is your opportunity to connect with fellow NBCTs, share best teaching practices and learn new and innovative ways to enhance student learning – all via the Internet.
I logged in, posted my first entry, browsed around and on Leadership Opportunities found this:
NBCTs are recognized by Pi Lambda Theta (PLT), the most selective national honor society and professional association of educators, for meeting the high standards of National Board Certification. PLT programs can enhance the career of even the most accomplished teacher. For example, PLT will advocate with a member‘s potential funding source to support that members’ participation in education’s premier annual teacher leader conference.
I want to get more involved in Professional Learning Network like this that is focused on enhancing teacher effectiveness and student achievement. There is too much negativity clouding the school system at this time that makes me wonder if we are really focusing on what we are supposed to target: empowering the teachers and giving them all the supports, resources and training that they need to be successful in supporting, empowering, inspiring, and rigorously teaching the students to maximize their potential.
I believe that things are going to get better if only we all are willing to make a compromise and have a sincere desire to find agreements that occupy the middle ground. Right action produces right results.

22 November 2009

Doing what it takes…

Filed under: National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings, Teachers/ Educators, WTU — Maria Angala @ 9:04 am
I am now a National Board Certified Teacher, it is a dream come true. I did not become an effective teacher overnight, knowledge and implementation of the national teaching standards and best practices over time made me the educator that I am today.
I thought my sleepless nights on the National Board was over after conquering it. But still I have been tossing and turning for the past two nights too excited to sleep recalling my challenges during my candidacy and looking forward to my next steps.
It was a personal decision for me to do whatever it takes to succeed. It was during my darkest times after my third year as a teacher under Dr. Janey's leadership that I embarked on this journey. I knew I was doing the right things as a teacher but good enough was not the best for my students. I wanted to know the best teaching practices according to the national teaching standards.
I did not get the support that I needed from my former principal, but the moral booster from my special education coordinator, a NWP colleague from Massachusetts, a parent, and my students are strong enough give me the push that I needed to continue amidst the adversities. My grandmother was another inspiration, she told me that "tough times never last but tough people do", and gave me the book before I left the Philippines in 2003; I read it again during my reflection. I closed my doors to my friends and have forgotten about my self, I focused on honing my skills as a teacher and helping my students maximize their potential.
One of my colleagues from the Pinoy Teachers Network reminded me that : "Teachers who inspire realize there will always be rocks in the road ahead of us. They will be stumbling blocks or stepping stones; it all depends on how we use them." From experiences I learned to look around at what others have done and what I can do. Some of them have already met what I was going through. At work, I faced a big challenge, I decided to see it through.
I received my NBC Blue Box three times; I missed by 20 points the first time I took it. It was understandable knowing that I was not a master teacher and I was still trying to absorb the Five Core Propositions of the National Board. I never back down once I start something, I press harder each time I try. The second round that I went through the process was more difficult because I was in a traumatic situation in my school and I was on my third trimester of my pregnancy. I submitted my second entry two weeks after giving birth, with the expectation that my score was going to drop big time!
When I got my results last year lo and behold, I only missed by 2 points, and the feeling was worse. I was crying when my new principal came in my classroom and talked to me, she said:
"Ms. Angala, you have gone this far on your own, just missing 2 points from the goal, without anybody there to support you. You are going to retake the national board and you are going to pass. Why? Because I am here to support you, we will go over your entry before you submit it.

You will pass because now I see a teacher who is worthy of being called a National Board Certified Teacher. I see a teacher in front of me who is working hard to be able to pull the scores of her special needs students out of below basic in the benchmark assessments. I see a teacher who is helping her colleagues create an inviting classroom environment and a better lesson plan for their students. I see a teacher who is able to pull together resources and grants, and community help for her students to achieve. I see a teacher who is open to suggestions, receptive, and is willing to learn and make things better for her students. You will retake the National Board, and I know you will pass because you are now ready."
More than 200 hours was again spent on reflective writing and doing research on classroom management. I did not have to retake another portfolio on Enhancing Social Development, I just had to do the Assessment Center computer based test. I was so brave to retake Entry 3 when I knew that this was my weakness. I told my colleagues that I would like to get better in this area. I knew that doing a lot of reflection and researching for more effective behavior management strategies would help me become a better teacher. The percentage of losing was higher, it was more risky.
When I received the email reminder last Wednesday that the results are coming out Friday, I was already anxious. I did not know who to tell about it, I was sick as a dog until the results came out last Friday. When I logged in my profile in the NBPTS website I had to read it more than three times and check my scores repeatedly. Yes, I nailed it the third round! This has been the most challenging but my most rewarding professional development experience as a teacher! Each round made me a better teacher that my students deserve; each year showed increase in my students' achievement as evidenced by their authentic work and not just test scores.
To my colleagues in DC Public Schools, we need to set higher expectations and higher standards for ourselves so we can inspire our students and encourage them to do what it takes to be successful in life. We need to make a strong decision to take control of our actions and not just to sit by and let others define effective teaching for us. We are the key players in the education arena and not just mere instruments in this education reform. We need to make our voice heard and let everyone know what matters most to our students that we, classroom teachers, better understand.
I have gotten texts, emails, Twitter messages, calls from the people who are significant to me and those who are in my professional network. My hubby's Facebook (sorry I decided not to have another addiction) was also flooded with messages from our friends and relatives. Thank you all for believing in me, you are my inspiration.
Tough times never last but tough people do!

20 November 2009

National Board Certified at last!

Filed under: National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings — Maria Angala @ 2:34 pm
Dreams do come true. I am now a National Board Certified Teacher! I got the result from the NBPTS website just 30 minutes ago. My NBPTS profile webpage says:

Dear MARIA LOURDES CRIBE ANGALA:

Congratulations! You are a National Board Certified Teacher®!

I am pleased to inform you that your performance met the standard for National Board Certification® set by the board of directors of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards® (NBPTS®). Please accept my personal congratulations on your achievement. The certificate, a symbol of your accomplishment and the status you have achieved, should reach you sometime after February. We hope you will display it with pride.

To achieve National Board Certification, a candidate must earn a total weighted scaled score that equals or exceeds 275. Your total weighted scaled score, exercise scores and weighted exercise scores are shown on your score profile. Information that describes the criteria used to score candidate responses can be found in the Scoring Guide located on the NBPTS Web site.

The American Council on Education (ACE) now recognizes the National Board Certification process as comparable to graduate level coursework. As a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT), you are now eligible to request a transcript from ACE that recommends you receive up to nine semester hours of graduate credit in education. You can find more information about requesting a transcript for graduate credit on the NBPTS Web site.

I am confident that this achievement marks the beginning of a long and productive relationship between you and NBPTS. In virtually every case, achieving National Board Certification signals the start of a new, exciting phase in an educator's professional life. As a National Board Certified Teacher, you have the opportunity to play an active role in charting the future of American education.

You can expect to be sought out by candidates, administrators, media, education organizations and professional associations for your insights on the certification process and other education issues. NBPTS is prepared to help you share information about National Board Certification with your colleagues. Your name will be included among the list of National Board Certified Teachers that is posted on the NBPTS Web site, so please keep your information current in our records. We look forward to your active involvement in the years to come as our work to integrate National Board Certification in American education continues.

On behalf of the NBPTS Board of Directors and staff, I extend our best wishes for your continued success.

With warm regards,

Joseph A. Aguerrebere, Ed. D.
President & CEO

3 November 2009

DCPS Teaching and Learning Framework

Filed under: DC Public Schools, National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings, Special Education, WTU — Maria Angala @ 8:40 pm
Here's the DCPS Teaching and Learning Framework, which supports the IMPACT which is the new system for assessing the performance of DCPS teachers and other school-based staff. I finished the first evaluation cycle with impressive ratings. Thanks to the National Board process. It made me reflect on, rethink, retool and redo my instructional practices. It made me innovative, creative, and try new things for my diverse students to learn the standards. It made me focus on data gathering and analysis, connecting and having good relationships with my students, colleagues, parents, and the community so we can all work towards a common goal --- maximizing my students' potential and increasing student achievement. Nope, I'm not yet National Board certified and I'm still working on it, but the process made me a teacher leader, a teacher collaborator, and a teacher learner...it made me a 21st Century educator! Even if I don't get National Board certified, I'm still glad I went through the process. It made me become a better teacher that my students deserve, and the intrinsic reward which made me grow professionally is worth all the sleepless nights, sacrifice and effort.

What do I think about the IMPACT? Yes, it is far better than our PPEP (old teacher evaluation system) but, for me, not the best one. I understand that this is still a work in progress. I have shared my concerns during WTU-DCPS Focus Group Discussions on this issue as a special education teacher. Studies have shown that students in co-teaching classrooms are better achievers than their peers. Also, the IDEA 2004 mandates inclusive education for our diverse learners. The new DCPS teacher evaluation tool does not support co-teaching nor the inclusion model. I hope that DCPS will come up with a rubric on team teaching model. I also want to know how they expect us to co-plan, co-teach, and co-grade with the regular education teachers, we just need some guidance on that.
Here's the pdf copy of the manual that was given during the training: IMPACT Guidebooks. And here's about our Master Educators. Tell me what you think: solangala@yahoo.com.

1 November 2009

In-class teachers are best resource for leadership, training

Filed under: Professional Development Trainings, Teachers/ Educators — Maria Angala @ 7:09 pm

I found a good article from Teacher Magazine where the author, Anthony Cody, answered the question "Why is it that school districts continue to hire outside consultants to conduct professional development when local classroom teachers often have greater levels of expertise? "

Classroom teachers -- not outside consultants -- are often a school's best professional-development resource, according to a California professional-development coach. Anthony Cody writes in this column that outside consultants can be helpful, but schools often have teachers on staff with considerable experience in the topic of the training. Teacher Magazine (free registration)

29 October 2009

NBCT with teaching in her blood is named top teacher in Delaware

Filed under: National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings, Teachers/ Educators — Maria Angala @ 7:15 am
Teacher of the year Mary Pinkston speaks Tuesday after Gov. Jack Markell presented.

National Board Certified Teacher and 17-year teaching veteran Mary Pinkston has been named Delaware's 2010 Teacher of the Year. "When you describe good teachers, they all have these adjectives: organized, prepared, dedicated and fair," Pinkston's principal said. "She has them all. She constantly relates the subject matter to the real world. You don't feel like you are in a math class." The News Journal (Wilmington, Del.)

27 October 2009

NBPTS launches series of reports highlighting effect of National Board Certified Teachers

Filed under: National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings — Maria Angala @ 1:45 am
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is launching a series of reports highlighting the effect of National Board Certified Teachers. The first report in the series is "Chicago, Illinois: Leveraging National Board Certification in a District-wide Human Capital Initiative." Read more
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