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Tolleson board hears expansion plan for National Board teacher certification; district highlights $5,000 stipend
Summary
Teachers and coaches presented the district's National Board certification effort: costs, time commitment, current candidate numbers and district supports, including a $5,000 annual stipend for certificate holders.
Steven Humble and Melissa Gernstein, National Board Certified teachers, presented a district update to the Tolleson Union High School District Governing Board on the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification program and district supports for candidates.
Humble said the district offers a $5,000 annual career stipend for each National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT), tied with a small set of districts in Arizona, and noted the certification's potential classroom benefits. "I learned more from my national board certification than any professional development I have ever attended," Humble told the board, adding that research shows students of NBCTs gain the equivalent of one to two months of extra instructional time.
The presenters described the certification process and costs. Certification typically takes one to five years and has four scored components plus a subject knowledge test; components include differentiation, teaching practice (including classroom video and student work samples), and professional learning-community work. Candidates pay a $75 annual registration fee; each scored component is $475, a fee the Arizona K-12 Center and the Arizona Teachers Academy have funded for many candidates. Humble said the district currently has five NBCTs on staff and about 20 active candidates, with roughly 50 teachers enrolled in pre-candidacy work.
Board members asked about barriers and district supports. Presenters said time was the most significant barrier; one coach estimated she spent about 100 hours over three years on certification work. Suggested district supports included providing a dedicated work day for candidate writing near submission deadlines and creating cohorts so candidates can work collaboratively. "The stipend pushed me over," Humble said of what encouraged several teachers to pursue certification.
The board discussed possible next steps: building cohort supports, documenting available resources, and publicly recognizing newly certified teachers. Presenters said certified teachers have maintenance requirements every five years (which require substantially less time than initial certification) and that the district stipend amounts to roughly $25,000 per teacher over a five-year certificate period.
No board action was required; the presentation concluded with board members thanking the coaches and discussing ways to expand candidate support.
