Whether inspiring students to become lifelong learners or helping them develop their full potential, certified teachers make a difference. In Mesa Public Schools, highly qualified state-certified teachers lead learning for the district’s 60,000 students.
To obtain standard certification, a teacher must have a bachelor’s degree, complete a formal preparation program, and pass the state’s subject and professional knowledge exams. Going through all the credentials gives educators a well rounded understanding of what classroom management is and helps them become better teachers, according to Renee Parker, director of human resources for certificated personnel at Mesa Public Schools.
“As I got my certification, I could recognize students who needed differentiated instruction, those who were not responding to interventions, and when I wasn’t providing materials that were enriching enough,” Renee shares. “Getting my certification gave me the lens to look through, otherwise I would have just presented the material, hoped my students got it and moved on.”
GOING FOR THE GOLD
Many district teachers choose to pursue the highest level of certification by achieving and maintaining National Board Certification. This time-intensive certification process must be renewed every five years. Teachers demonstrate their eligibility by submitting evidence including classroom instruction videos and written materials. Each educator has a unique reason for pursuing certification. Some look for a challenge and others want to impact education on a larger scale. Many use the opportunity to elevate their effectiveness in the classroom in new ways.
The National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) cohort in Mesa Public Schools is growing, thanks to educators like Lauren Cluff, Hughes Elementary second-grade teacher, and NBCT mentor. There are currently 41 new and maintained National Board Certified Teachers in the district. This winter, the district had the highest number of new National Board Certified Teachers in the state, and the third-highest number of teachers earning Maintenance of Certificate. Lauren shares that NBCTs provide value to their schools and community because they are dedicated to improving not only their own teaching but also education as a whole.
“It can take hundreds of hours and up to three years to complete the National Board Certification process,” Lauren says. “It helped me become the teacher I always wanted to be. I get to give back by mentoring others, helping them become highly effective teachers.”
Learn more at mpsaz.org/proflearn/nbct.