Contact: Allison Matthews
Teachers working to achieve National Board Certification may benefit from a Mississippi State support program to help more of them achieve the goal.
The university is offering three: a pre-candidacy program in the spring, a standards program each summer, and a mentoring program for candidates as they work to complete the portfolio requirement to gain National Board Certification.
The four-day summer prep course in Starkville and Meridian will take place June 20, 21, 25, and 26, as well as July 18, 19, 23, and 24. It also is available in the Jackson area June 27-30.
Cost of the prep course is $100, with 2.5 continuing education units available for an additional $30.
Registration information is available at 662-325-8010; a downloadable application, at http://wctp.msstate.edu/.
A voluntary assessment, National Board Certification is awarded to classroom leaders who have met rigorous standards through intensive study, expert evaluation, self-assessment, and peer review. Teachers also must show how their teaching practices support student learning.
"Research shows that students tend to score better on tests when they are in classrooms taught by National Board Certified teachers," said Tempe O'Nan, MSU program director. The certification process ensures teachers analyze their own practices, and the results lead to improved teaching skills, she added.
Participants who attain certification also receive a $6,000 annual stipend as a supplement to salaries.
O'Nan said the summer prep course focuses on standards required for certification, as well as writing styles and preparation for the portfolio component.
The program also offers year-round mentoring and a support network for NBC candidates who are eligible.
For more information about Mississippi State University, visit www.msstate.edu.