799 South Carolina Educators Earn National Board Certification

ROCK HILL – December 16, 2009 –  Seven hundred ninety-nine South Carolina educators representing 62 school districts and 5 special schools earned National Board Certification in 2009, according to data released today by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

This year’s number of new National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) brings the state’s total to 7,297, which is the third highest in the country behind North Carolina and Florida. NBCTs represent approximately 14 percent of the state’s teaching force of nearly 50,000 teachers.

“The number of National Board Candidates and National Board Certified Teachers speaks volumes to the dedication South Carolina educators have for their students and the profession,” said Jenna Hallman, National Board Program Director with the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement (CERRA).

There has been significant growth in the 16-year history of South Carolina teachers pursuing the nation’s highest teaching endorsement; five teachers earned the designation in 1994 and the highest single-year total came in 2002 with 1,073 teachers achieving National Board Certification. The 799 teachers achieving National Board Certification ranks third nationally this year and is the fourth-highest total to earn the status in South Carolina.

Twenty nine school districts had at least 10 teachers to earn the nation’s most prestigious teaching certification. Horry County had 76 teachers earn the designation, and was followed by Greenville County with 63, Richland Two and Lexington One, both with 54. All four districts ranked in the top 20 nationally in the number of new NBCTs in 2009; Horry County (8th), Greenville County (10th), Richland Two (16th), and Lexington One (17th).

CERRA continues to provide an infrastructure of support for not only high levels of awareness for National Board initiative, but also for the retention of candidates once they identify themselves as accomplished teachers who desire support in achieving National Board Certification. This infrastructure includes a district liaison in each of the state’s 85 school districts, and collaboration with other state agencies including the State Department of Education, The South Carolina Education Association, and the Palmetto State Teachers Association.

“We’re proud of all South Carolina’s teachers who participate in the National Board Certification process,” said Dr. Gayle Sawyer, CERRA Executive Director. “We celebrate with those who received certification this year and offer continued support and encouragement to those teachers who are still in the process.

“NBC standards are incorporated in the teaching performance standards in many states and in the standards for teacher preparation programs around the country.  We are fortunate that our legislature appreciates the impact of the NBC process as a high level of quality professional development and as a career path for our teachers” she said.

The National Board process defines the knowledge, skills and accomplishments that symbolize teaching excellence. It was created so teachers, like professionals in other fields, can achieve distinction by demonstrating through a demanding performance assessment that they meet high and rigorous standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do.

“I commend these outstanding teachers for aspiring to such high standards of excellence, “said State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex.  “The National Board process is a rigorous one that requires a tremendous amount of hard work.  Teachers tell me all the time that it’s by far the most rewarding experience of their professional careers.  Ultimately, it impacts where the rubber meets the road: teaching and learning in the classroom.”  

Teachers seeking National Board Certification undertake a two-part process that takes from one to three years to complete. The process requires candidates to reflect on their classroom practices, their understanding of subject material and their preparation techniques.  In addition to preparing a portfolio with videotapes of classroom teaching, lesson plans, student work samples and reflective essays, teachers must complete assessment center exercises based on content knowledge that proves they have mastered the subjects they teach and also know how to teach them.

Since 2000, CERRA has been charged by the South Carolina General Assembly to administer the South Carolina National Board Certification Loan Program for teachers choosing to pursue NBPTS certification. Through district liaisons, CERRA provides candidate support for teachers wishing to pursue National Board Certification and those teachers who are nearing the time to renew their certification.

About the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards:

NBPTS is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan and nongovernmental organization.  NBPTS advances the quality of teaching and learning by developing professional standards for accomplished teaching; creating and administering National Board Certification, a voluntary system to certify teachers who meet those standards; and integrating certified teachers into educational reform efforts. Today, tens of thousands of National Board Certified Teachers are making a positive difference in the lives of students across the nation.

About the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, & Advancement:

CERRA, an independent state agency located on the campus of Winthrop University, is the oldest and most established teacher recruitment program in the country. The purpose of CERRA is to provide leadership in identifying, attracting, placing and retaining well-qualified individuals for the teaching profession in South Carolina. CERRA’s programs have been adopted at school, district and state levels in more than 30 states in the United States. More information about the Center and its programs is available at www.cerra.org. You can now follow CERRA on Facebook and Twitter.