ISLAND VOICES
Certified teachers are a boon

By Randy Hitz
Dean of the College of Education at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa

Not long ago, I had the opportunity to talk with some of Hawai'i's best and brightest teachers about their experiences with National Board Certification. I came away inspired and hopeful for education in our state.

But, at the same time I became frustrated by our inability or unwillingness to support Hawai'i's teachers.

The National Board Certification teachers are deeply caring and committed individuals. They have all taught for many years and through those years they have established reputations as excellent teachers. Before seeking National Board Certification, they were confident in their ability as teachers, but they decided to challenge themselves to meet the highest national standards for teachers by applying for national certification.

The National Board Certification system was established in 1994 after several years of intense research and development. It is highly regarded as the best means of assessing teaching excellence and, as such, the standards have influenced teacher licensure and accreditation of teacher education throughout the nation.

There are four components to the National Board Certification assessment, including computer-based tests of content and pedagogical knowledge and video assessments of actual classroom teaching. The preparation process takes months and is considered by those who pursue it to be highly rigorous. Teachers must also pay $2,300 to be assessed.

Imagine the commitment and courage it takes for individuals who have excellent reputations as teachers to subject themselves to a rigorous, expensive and time-consuming process that could, if they fail, do more damage than good to their reputations.

I asked the teachers what motivated them to seek National Board Certification and they all talked about their commitment to meeting high standards and to improving themselves as teachers. One commented that we ask our students to meet high standards, so it only makes sense that we ask the same of ourselves as teachers. As they reflected on the process they reported that they learned a great deal from it and that their students were benefiting as a result.

Recognizing the importance of the National Board Certification process to improving teaching in Hawai'i and to retaining our best teachers in the classroom, the 2001 Legislature funded a small program to help teachers prepare for National Board Certification. At the same time, the DOE followed the lead of many other states by providing for fee reimbursements to teachers who complete the process and salary incentive to those who achieved national certification.

States that have successfully encouraged hundreds of teachers to pursue National Board Certification have made long-term commitments. Typically, teachers are given bonuses or salary increases for the 10-year life of their national certification. In Hawai'i, we made no such long-term commitment. The legislative support (approximately $90,000) has been lost and DOE support is in question.

One of the main reasons National Board Certification was started was to encourage the best teachers to stay in the profession and in the classroom. National Board Certification provides a way for teachers to advance in their profession without moving into administration or some other role outside the classroom.

State support for bonuses or salary increases adds additional incentive for teachers to remain in the profession and in the classroom.

Support for National Board Certification is a relatively small investment in teachers that has potential for significant returns.