Contact: Allison Matthews
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Education proponents are celebrating recent legislation to continue state-awarded stipends for teachers achieving National Board Certification, and a Mississippi State mentoring program is helping more of them complete the process.
The university's World Class Teaching program is designed to support the classroom leaders as they work toward NBC requirements.
In Starkville and Meridian, a four-day preparatory course will take place June 2, 3, 6, and 7, as well as July 21, 22, 25, and 26. The same course will be available June 9, 10, 13, and 14 in Pearl, and June 27-30 in Gautier.
The course fee is $100, with 2.5 continuing education units available for $20. Registration may be completed at http://wctp.msstate.edu/.
A voluntary assessment, National Board Certification is awarded by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards to teachers meeting rigorous requirements through intensive study, expert evaluation, self-assessment, and peer review. During the process, participants must show how their teaching practices support student learning.
Tempe O'Nan, director of MSU's World Class Teaching program, said that, in addition to the $6,000 annual supplement NBC-ranked teachers receive in Mississippi, their students also benefit greatly.
"Research shows that students tend to score better on tests when they are in classrooms taught by National Board Certified teachers," O'Nan noted.
The certification process ensures that teachers analyze their own practices, and the results lead to improved teaching skills, she added.
"It helps teachers to understand why they're doing what they are doing in their classrooms," O'Nan said. "It also makes them reflect on their practice and, ultimately, it makes better teachers."
In addition to learning about standards required for certification process, the summer prep course will involve focus on effective writing styles and preparations for the portfolio component.
Beyond the in-class course work, the World Class Teaching program offers year-round mentoring and a support network for eligible NBC candidates, O'Nan said.
For additional information on the training program, contact O'Nan at 662-325-8010 or tjo2@msstate.edu.