continued...President’sColumn

• Collaboration

• Reflection, Professional Growth, and Professional Contribution

A variety of support groups have sprung up among teachers involved in the program. Some teachers have regional meetings with other candidates. Other teachers meet through discussion groups online. Candidates should set up their own support system of students, colleagues, family, and community members at the onset of the process: their feedback helps to formulate portfolio submissions and deepen the professional development experience of the candidate. Beyond the notice of whether or not they achieve certification, teachers do not receive any feedback from NBPTS.

The process has been designed with input from, and with review and validation by, music teachers. Further, music teachers score the applicants’ portfolios and tests. I just completed a project with a group of teachers from all regions of the country and all areas of music teaching. We were brought together to validate the content of the standards and the evaluation process. Our consensus was that significant insight from our colleagues helped refine a certification process that will be a valuable professional development opportunity for candidates and a genuine honor for those who achieve national certification.

Additional reasons why all Oregon music teachers should consider pursuit of National Board Certification is that we will be compared to our colleagues in other disciplines who are already becoming certified, and we will compete with them for public recognition and our fair compensation in salary, benefits, and other incentives. The National Board Certifica-tion is a quality program that can be appropriately evaluated and compared to our masters and doctoral programs, other certification programs, and conferences and workshops provided by OMEA, MENC, and our affiliates.

Teachers should review the NBPTS Music Standards carefully before entering the certification process—a pdf version of the standards is available online at www.nbpts.org.

We all need to determine the path to professional development that will support our most intense interaction with students. I wish you continued good luck on that path.

For copies of the NBPTS Music Standards, or more information about the certification process contact:

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

1525 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 500 Arlington, VA 22209 Phone: 800 22TEACH

For information about how OEA supports teachers working toward National Board Certification, contact Valerie Sebesta, consultant at the OEA Center for Teaching & Learning, at 800 858-5505 or vasebesta@nea.org.