Douglas said she wants to help drive the number up. A 27-year teaching veteran, she is taking a one year leave of absence from Carruthers School in Murphysboro to do just that. One of the things National Board certified teachers have in common is we love to talk about the process and share information about it. Teachers may qualify for certificates in 19 different teaching specialties, ranging from early childhood education to mathematics, science, social studies, technical education and more. Applicants must submit extensive portfolios that include their students' work, videotapes of themselves giving classroom instruction and written chronicles of their classroom practices.
Teachers often spend hundreds of hours compiling the information.
Then, they take lengthy essay exams aimed at assessing the depth and breadth of their knowledge as well as teaching abilities. Illinois endorsed the process in February by making it the top tier of a new three-level teacher licensure system. At SIUC, Douglas is mentoring eight teachers seeking the national certification. In addition, she will serve as a kind of ambassador to outlying school districts. Because we're in a rural area, it's been really difficult to let teachers know about this process.