New National Board Certified Teachers to be Honored at Sumner School District Winter Social

From the Sumner School District:

Eleven Sumner School District teachers have earned national board certification in 2012.

National Board Certification is the nationally accepted sign of quality in the teaching profession and offers a nationwide standard for evaluating and encouraging quality teaching. Districtwide 90 teachers have earned certification through this rigorous program, this number reflects approximately 21 percent of our teaching staff.

Congratulations to the newest board certified teachers in the Sumner School District: Lisa Crinklaw, Victor Falls Elementary; Boe Woodbury, Sumner High School; and Kathleen Tuttle, Bonney Lake High School.

The 2012 National Board Certified Teachers will be recognized by the School Board and Superintendent Craig Spencer at the District Winter Social, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m., on December 12, 2012, at the Central Administration Office in downtown Sumner.

What is National Board Certification?

The National Board of Professional Teaching Standards has developed a voluntary certification process that measures teachers’ skills against rigorous standards. Certification is offered in most curricular areas and includes counselors and librarians.

The process involves writing four portfolio entries, one of which requires an analysis of a videotaped lesson, and a three-hour session at an assessment center. It requires between 200 and 400 hours of work by the candidate over a one-year period. There is a fee of $2,565.00. The certificate is good for 10 years and the State of Washington currently pays a stipend of $5,000 a year to each certified teacher. Teachers can earn National Board Certification in lieu of the Professional Certificate.

The District offers all pre-candidates who are still undecided about or investigating the process a class that introduces them to the standards and the process. A minimum of 10 hours is spent processing the standards and examining the certification process. Sumner School District and the Sumner Education Association (SEA) provide access for our candidates to Washington Education Association’s (WEA) Jump Start class. Jump Start is a powerful way to begin getting organized and deepening a candidates understanding of the process. Currently, the Sumner School District helps to offset the cost of the process for candidates.

The district also provides a yearlong facilitation group to support candidates. This group meets monthly or more often to guide candidates through the process.