LEARN
Rise to Recognition With Wilmington University’s
New National Board Certification Prep Programs
E
xperienced, dedicated educators are committed to their students and the success of their school communities. They master the subjects they teach as well as the most effective ways to teach them. They actively improve their practices and share expertise with colleagues. These educators can earn the recognition they deserve by attaining National Board Certification. Two new courses of study at Wilmington University’s College of Education can help teachers succeed on this path to excellence. Available for enrollment this fall, WilmU’s Master of Education in Instruction with a National Board Certified Teacher concentration and its National Board Certified Teacher graduate certificate offer support and guidance to eligible candidates as they prepare their formal applications. What is National Board Certification? A voluntary professional credential and a major step beyond state licensure, it recognizes excellence in the classroom to promote higher-quality learning experiences among K-12 students. Certification may open doors to advancement into teaching leadership and peer mentoring roles, and teachers who have achieved certification may see an increase in their base salaries. In addition, their students are likely to benefit.
“The most important reason for this program is the impact that board certified teachers have on student achievement,” says Dr. Jennifer Palmer, program coordinator for WilmU’s National Board Certified Teacher program. “Studies have shown that students who are taught by a National Board certified teacher generally learn more,” says Dr. Palmer.
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Awarded by the independent, nonprofit National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (nbpts.org) National Board certification is an elite honor: currently only three percent of teachers nationwide and five percent of Delaware’s teachers have earned it. It’s also a challenging process. It requires educators to examine, describe, and demonstrate their individual accomplishments in instructional practice through the submission of professional performance portfolios and the completion of a content knowledge exam. WilmU’s National Board Certified Teacher graduate certificate is a five-course overview of the board’s peer-reviewed certification process for educators aiming to meet the necessary criteria. Its courses are integrated as a concentration option in the Master of Education in Instruction degree, a 30-credit program designed for teachers seeking certification while earning their master’s. WilmU is one of the few schools nationwide to offer National Board Certification preparation programs. Both academic programs, created in partnership with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and the National Academy Foundation (naf.org), assist experienced teachers in evaluating their instructional strategies, demonstrating their effectiveness on student learning, assembling portfolios for submission to the board, and preparing for its computer-based content knowledge assessment. Both programs are available 100% online and are instructed entirely by National Board Certified Teachers, whose firsthand experience with the certification process provides invaluable guidance to applicants. Plus, educators seeking to be considered for certification don’t have to endure the demanding process on their own. “Interacting with a mentor, collaborating and studying with like-minded individuals, and receiving feedback on your self-evaluation efforts can certainly help you undertake the challenge,” says Dr. Palmer. For more information, please visit wilmu.edu/Education.
Next classes start October 25!
Apply today at wilmu.edu/WilmUWorks WilmU is a registered trademark of Wilmington University. All rights reserved. © Wilmington University 2021
