Broadalbin-Perth Central School District is proud to announce that intermediate school literacy specialist Mariah Duell achieved National Board Certification last week. National Board Certification was designed to develop, retain and recognize accomplished teachers and to generate ongoing improvement in schools nationwide.
It is the most respected professional certification available in K-12 education. According to NYSUT, only 3 percent of the national teaching population has achieved this certification.
“National Board Certification was a personal goal that I set for myself, and I’m definitely proud to achieve it,” Duell said. “It was the ultimate piece of professional development. It has made me a better teacher, a better reflector, and I’m grateful to have made connections with other teachers who have the same kind of drive that I have.”
Often considered the “gold standard” of achievement, it requires teachers to demonstrate standards-based evidence of the positive effect they have on student learning.
This certification, created by teachers, for teachers, represents a consensus among educators about what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do. Board certification is available in 25 certificate areas from pre-k through 12th grade.
To achieve the certification, Duell had to complete an extensive portfolio that she started in 2015. It is organized around four key components. Teacher candidates must:
- Take a computer-based, written test in their content area;
- Show examples of how they’ve tailored instruction to drive individual academic gains;
- Submit videos of their classroom teaching with reflections on what did go well and what didn’t; and
- Provide examples of ways they’ve used data and school and community resources to improve outcomes for their students.
“There is so much that I gained throughout the process that goes so much further than the achievement itself. I would love for more teachers at B-P to go for it. We have a lot of great teachers who exemplify the standards that NBTCS promotes. I would love to help others go through the same process.”
Duell, a teacher for 11 years, achieved her certificate in Literacy for Early and Middle Childhood. She joins Megan Floyd and Anita Stabrowski as National Board-Certified teachers at B-P.