GOV. EASLEY ANNOUNCES N.C. RANKS FIRST IN NATION FOR CERTIFIED TEACHERS

N.C. Leads Nation for New Certifications and Total Number of National Board Certified Teachers

RALEIGH — Gov. Mike Easley announced today North Carolina once again leads the nation in the number of teachers who have earned certification by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. This year’s addition of 1,642 newly certified teachers, the largest class in the country, brings the state total to 8,281 national board certified teachers. North Carolina also leads the nation in the percentage of teachers who are certified with 9.4 percent of the total number of teachers certified.

“These numbers are proof that our efforts to improve teacher quality and professional development are paying off as we continue to strive for higher student achievement,” said Easley. “Our top ranking in the number of board certified teachers shows that our teachers are deeply committed to the children and to education in this state.”

National Board Certification requires an extensive series of performance-based assessments including teaching portfolios, student work samples, videotapes and thorough analyses of the candidates' classroom teaching and student learning. Teachers also complete a series of written exercises that probe the depth of their subject-matter knowledge, as well as their understanding of how to teach those subjects to their students.

North Carolina supports teachers’ efforts to achieve National Board Certification in the following ways:

Payment up front of the $2,300 assessment fee. (Teachers are obligated to teach in the state the following year whether or not they achieve certification.)
Three paid release days from normal teacher responsibilities to develop their portfolios.
A 12 percent salary supplement to the teachers’ regular salary, good for the 10-year life of the certification.
15 continuing education units (CEUs) awarded to the individual for completing the National Board Certification process.

Also, the State Board of Education awards a North Carolina teaching license to out-of-state teachers who possess National Board Certification.

holly.tolston@carteretk12.org