An Orlando teacher, Mandi Kraemer of Freedom High School, is among six other educators nationwide who achieved National Board Certification in the 2012-2013 assessment cycle, the Knowles Science Teaching Foundation (KSTF) announced. Governed by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), National Board Certification is an advanced teaching credential held by slightly more than 3% of teachers in the United States.
National Board Certified teachers meet the standards outlined by NBPTS for excellence in teaching. Similar to board certification in the field of medicine, National Board Certification involves a stringent, performance-based, peer review process. To earn this certification, candidates must submit a portfolio of classroom practice, including samples of student work and video-recorded instruction, and successfully complete an assessment of content knowledge. Planning, executing and organizing the required submission materials can consume hundreds of hours beyond a teacher’s normal scope of work, necessitating a high level of dedication.
“National Board Certification signifies excellence and professionalism in individual teachers and strengthens the teaching profession as a whole,” stated Nicole Gillespie, Executive Director, KSTF. “We encourage Fellows to strive for Board Certification on their way to becoming leaders within the teaching profession, and will continue to support those who have achieved this distinction as they take on those roles.”
Along with Kraemer, the following KSTF Fellows achieved National Board Certification:
? Laura Darnall, Goodpasture Christian School, Madison, Tenn.
? KD Davenport, Central High School, Philadelphia, Penn.
? Mark Hartman, Millbrook High School, Raleigh, N.C.
? Kate Markiewicz, Boston Latin School, Boston, Mass.
? Scott Murphy, St. Joseph’s Preparatory School, Philadelphia, Penn.
Across the nation, there are more than 106,000 National Board Certified teachers, working in all 50 states and in the District of Columbia. A total of 18 KSTF Fellows have achieved National Board Certification since 2008.
