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Working on their components largely during the pandemic, 68 Arizona teachers achieved National Board Certification in 2021, and 12 Arizona teachers successfully renewed and 89 maintained their certification. These teachers have earned the highest certificate an educator can achieve in the United States through a process that enhances their teaching practice, ultimately better supporting Arizona’s students.

Along with the usual rigor of the National Board Certification process, these 169 NBCTs also faced additional challenges from both teaching and documenting that teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those who maintained their certification also went through a brand new process. The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards recently changed the process for continuing National Board Certification. Teachers who renewed or maintained their certification completed different processes to keep their certification status.

“The unique piece about National Board is that it is totally focused on a teacher’s practice. A teacher must provide clear, consistent, and convincing evidence of the National Board Standards in their teaching,” says Dr. Kathy Wiebke, NBCT, executive director of the Arizona K12 Center. “Teachers choose to seek National Board Certification. There is no guarantee they will achieve and yet they persevere. What I admire most about this group of teachers is they chose to continue during a pandemic. They were given the option of deferring and they did not do that. They are a testimony to the great teachers that can be found throughout Arizona.”

About half of the new NBCTs received funding for the process through the state’s Arizona Teachers Academy, a budget appropriation from the Arizona State Legislature under the direction of Gov. Doug Ducey. 

Altogether, Arizona is home to 1,649 NBCTs Arizona with another 653 teachers currently pursuing National Board Certification. Nationwide, there are more than 128,000 NBCTs. Learn more about pursuing National Board Certification through the Arizona K12 Center’s website.

Here are the Arizona teachers who achieved, renewed, or maintained National Board Certification:

New National Board Certified Teachers

Renewed or Maintained National Board Certified Teachers