InClass

Spoiler alert: Find out what you will hear this week on the newest episode of “3Ps in a Pod.”

This week, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards honors 5,470 new and 3,957 renewed National Board Certified Teachers. There are now more than 118,000 Board-certified teachers in the United States. These numbers are significant because the National Board has spent the last three years redesigning the process to make it more affordable and accessible for teachers. The encouraging statistics prompted process two “3Ps in a Pod” hosts to secure an interview with a longtime member of the National Board staff, Amber Parker.

It’s no surprise — teachers throw their hearts and souls into their professional lives. We’re committed to the work we do because it is important to the students in our classrooms and our future, as a whole. And while the warm feelings can certainly keep us pushing through the budget cuts, district politics, and more (insert your least favorite thing about the profession here), there’s something to be said about being a distinguished, outstanding professional.

The National Board journey has helped mold district-level teacher leaders, an Arizona Teacher of the Year (or two), and educators who advocate for political policies that are appropriate to our students and their needs. Many of these teacher leaders found their voices through the reflective work of National Board Certification.

The Board-certification process is not meant to be a task, but a journey that helps educators better articulate why they do what they do and the positive impact their work has on students. When ambitious and talented educators, such as those who pursue Board certification, dedicate their careers to raising educational standards and providing excellent education for all children, the entire system can experience positive change.

As individuals pursue National Board Certification, they report an increase in reflection and intentionality in their practice. The thoughtful nature of the National Board process changes educators and how they see themselves. National Board Certified Teachers and candidates find new, profound connections between their work and student success.

For decades, people have argued about “what” makes an educator top-notch. Board-certified teachers have all demonstrated the excellence of their work through the masterful artistry with which they craft their daily practice.

This week, on “3Ps in a Pod, we talk with Amber Parker from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. As the Director of Assessment Operations, she tells us more about the organization’s history and how the process has been revised with you, the teacher, in mind.