Educators Earn, Renew National Board Certification
#TeamNBCT, @CERRASC, #scnbn
Five GCS educators have earned National Board Certification (NBC) for the first time, and 43 educators have earned NBC renewals. Greenville County Schools has 694 National Board Certified teachers, one of the teaching profession’s most respected achievements, and we rank 13th in the nation out of more than 14,000 school districts for the total number of NBC teachers. GCS has more National Board Certified teachers than 22 states.
NEW
- Erin Busch, Riverside Middle & Riverside High
- Holly Cameron, Riverside High
- Carolyn Joye, Gateway Elementary
- Jenny Pierce, Eastside High
- Amanda Rapp, Hollis Elementary
RENEWALS
- Kimberly Brice, Bethel Elementary
- Beth Broadwell, Eastside High
- Sandra Brundage, Woodmont High
- Jodie Buford, East North Street Academy
- Marci Cecere, Mauldin High
- Thomas Chamness, Eastside High
- Kerry Culpepper, MT Anderson Support Center
- Donnis Finet, Lakeview Middle
- Crystal Garner, Riverside Middle
- Amy George, Sara Collins Elementary
- Melanie Grieve-Beal, Simpsonville Elementary
- Laura Gurley, Mauldin High
- Glenda Hawthorne, Northwood Middle
- Carrie Hayes, Summit Drive Elementary
- Katrina Hester, Riverside High
- Rodrecus Hill, Hughes Middle Academy
- Cayce Hoenshel, Simpsonville Elementary
- Cynthia Hudson, Bethel Elementary
- Tina Hurley, Hillcrest Middle
- Anne Kelsey-Zibert, Greer Middle
- Hollie Kutz, Brook Glenn Elementary
- Kim Lambert – Rudolph Gordon ES
- Lashonda Lee, Mauldin Middle
- Neal Leonard, Greenville Middle Academy
- Jaime Lovello, Pelham Road Elementary
- Mark Maloy, Bryson Middle
- Mac Martin, Heritage Elementary
- Jennifer Mathis, Riverside Middle
- Paula McCallister, Sue Cleveland Elementary
- Brian McKitrick, Travelers Rest High
- Candice Moore, ADEPT Team
- Tracy Oliver, Plain Elementary
- Kimberly Pauls, Riverside High
- Karen Perkins, League Middle Academy
- Alice Prince, Greenville High Academy
- Inga Puffer, Duncan Chapel Elementary
- Caraline Richardson, Blythe Elementary Academy
- Carol Scudder, Woodland Elementary
- Stacey Shamis, Central Office
- Nikki Smith, Mauldin High
- Leah Sullivan, Ellen Woodside Elementary
- Gerald Tilson, MT Anderson Support Center
- Lisa Wofford, Wade Hampton High
South Carolina remains one of the nation’s leading states for the total number of National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs). Seventy-nine educators in the state, representing 30 school districts, recently earned National Board Certification (NBC). In addition, 513 NBCTs from 59 school districts renewed their national certificates, bringing South Carolina’s total number of NBCTs to 9,125.
The growing number of NBCTs is critical in South Carolina as more teachers are leaving the profession each year. According to a January 2018 study conducted by CERRA, the turnover rates among NBCTs are much lower than those of all teachers in South Carolina. Specifically, the state’s teacher turnover rate for the 2016-17 school year was 7.7%, yet the rate was only 1.9% for all South Carolina NBCTs. The full report can be accessed at the CERRA website. CERRA anticipates publishing another report with updated teacher turnover rates early in 2019.
Teachers seeking National Board Certification undertake a four-part process that takes from one to three years to complete. The process requires candidates to analyze information about students in order to design and implement instructional choices that leads to advance student growth and achievement. Teachers reflect on their classroom practices, assess their understanding of subject material and examine their preparation techniques. In order to advance student learning and growth, teachers must demonstrate knowledge and evidence of being an effective practitioner by analyzing assessments and data to positively plan lessons that impact student learning. In addition to preparing a portfolio with videotapes of classroom teaching, unit lesson plans, student work samples and reflective essays about the classroom environment and teaching interactions, teachers must complete assessment center exercises based on content knowledge that prove they have mastered the subjects they teach and also possess the pedagogical practices for teaching the content area.
Candidates consistently report that collaboration with other NBCTs and candidates eases the burden of the process. To this end, the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention and Advancement (CERRA) created an infrastructure of support that includes a district liaison in each of the state’s 81 school districts and a National Board Toolkit comprised of PowerPoints, handouts, and activities to assist candidates as they move through the certification process. GCSD is pleased to partner with CERRA in implementing an applicant cohort program for GCSD teachers to participate in once a month as they work through the NB application process together over a three-year period. CERRA also collaborates with other state agencies including the State Department of Education, The South Carolina Education Association, and Palmetto State Teachers Association to provide workshops and awareness sessions for candidates.
Teachers interested in pursuing the certification for the 2018-19 National Board cycle can access further information on NBCT website.