I learned more about myself and my strengths and weaknesses as a teacher than I ever have in 20-plus years of teaching. I was proud to be included in the very first group of teachers to be certified as professionals by the Board. Shortly thereafter, I was prouder still to be elected to the group's board of directors. I've traveled across the country, talking to teachers about the Board, encouraging them to participate in this valuable, professional process. I've told countless audiences that while the Board can't single-handedly transform schools, it can be a catalyst for change.
National certification can add a new level to teacher education.
It can offer incentives to current teachers, bring new people into the field, and decrease the loss of quality educators. It can reverse the long-term trend of declining minority interest in teaching. By recognizing outstanding teaching, a national certification program can elevate the entire profession. I've learned that the best teacher is a learner, and that teachers are indeed professionals. Sharon Draper teaches English at Walnut Hills High School in Cincinnati, Ohio.