Friday, January 11, 2008 9:44 PM CST
OUR VIEW: NBC teachers go the extra mile for excellence
By the JG/T-C Editorial Board
editorial@jg-tc.com
The Charleston school district has done an impressive job of upgrading its teachers. Thirteen have earned National Board Certification.
The district area-wide leads the way in the program, conducted under the auspices of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
Board certification comes hard, requiring one to three years of intensive effort. Certification comes only after candidates pass a comprehensive test of knowledge in the subjects they teach.
Illinois had 511 certified teachers this year. The rural areas, particularly Southern Illinois, have lagged. There are no certified teachers in 13 counties in that part of the state.
The quest for National Board Certification has not only taken hold in Charleston, it is also spreading to Mattoon and other area school districts, including Arthur and Sullivan.
Mattoon High School math teacher Ryan Ghere became the first teacher in the district to be certified in 2007. Last week, he told the JG/T-C the six-part test he completed last May of advanced math skills “was, by far, the most difficult part of the process.”
Acquiring the certification puts an extra $3,000 per year — from the Illinois State Board of Education — in a teacher’s pocket. Many districts in the state offer additional rewards to those earning certification.
We are encouraged by the support shown by area school administrators and boards for the program. With projected economic growth — amplified by the recent landing by Mattoon of FutureGen — the pressure for top-notch educators will increase.
Teachers exhibiting the drive to earn National Board Certification are to be commended for their commitment, not only to those they teach, but to themselves. Continued improvement in teaching skills and knowledge of subjects taught go a long way in insuring students get the best education possible.
Illinois ranked fourth in the nation in 2007 for National Board Certification teachers. As of last year, the state could claim 1,986 certified teachers.
The National Board Certification program pays homage to merit, and we think that is a good thing. Competition in the teaching ranks needs to be encouraged, not only for highly motivated teachers, but for the profession as a whole.
Competition is an axiom of capitalism. From its bowels come the achievements, both in scientific and economic advancements, so vital if the U.S. is compete for the world’s business.
The acceleration of the National Board Certification program in our area is welcome news particularly as it occurs in an area of the state fighting to grow, both economically and in population.
State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch, commenting on the program, said, “All success in the classroom starts with the teacher.
“The quality of a teacher’s skills, practices and teaching knowledge is an essential component to raising student achievement.”
Excellence in the classroom is the result of the work of those people who are often underpaid, overworked and unappreciated: teachers.
— JG/T-C Editorial Board
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Early Bird wrote on Jan 9, 2008 5:43 AM:
Excellence in the classroom is the result of the work of those people who are often underpaid, overworked and unappreciated: teachers.... and I say AMEN to that. "