‘Twas the night before score release
And all through the house
Teachers were waiting
For their score to be announced!
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards released the scores of National Board candidates this past weekend. Teachers anxiously waited for their scores to be released and across the country asked themselves: “Will I see fireworks?”
Many saw fireworks, and for them, I say “Welcome to the club NBCTs!” While others saw the dreaded three words: Not Yet Achieved.
Last year I spoke to three candidates in my school district who did not certify (yet). They were devastated that they had not certified (yet) considering they put nine months of work into this National Board baby and thought they would be leaving with a brand “newborn” NBCT certificate. Two of these candidates were looking for encouragement, knowing they are not alone and trying to figure out how to move forward and what to do next; one candidate made the difficult decision to not move forward with retaking components. It takes courage to retake components, and it also takes courage to know that life has you on a different path.
If you saw those three dreaded words instead of fireworks this cycle, please remember that becoming a National Board Certified Teacher is a journey. There are high points and low points. Not receiving the results you want is a low point. It means that you are not there YET. Sometimes it takes several years to achieve certification, as Susan Collins writes about in her blog here. When you are ready to talk, reach out to your Candidate Support Provider. Your CSPs are there to help you process your scores and make a plan moving forward.
Two candidates decided to retake components last year and came to our monthly coaching meetings ready to tackle their components with newfound determination. Last year their portfolios were not there YET, but this year would be different. In the wee hours of Saturday morning, I received an email from them with two life-changing words: I certified!
Keep moving forward if you are not there YET. The fireworks will be even more beautiful when you get there.
Comments 1
This is a great blog and so timely. Thank you for continuing the conversation for advanced candidates. It can feel so lonely to not certify yet. We need to tell the stories often.