Total Number in MCPS Now Reaches 528

Eighty-five educators in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) achieved certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) in 2009.

With 528 National Board Certified educators overall, Montgomery County far surpasses all other counties in Maryland and ranks 7th among school districts in the nation in the number of new National Board Certified educators.

National Board Certification was created so teachers and other educators, like professionals in other fields, can achieve distinction by demonstrating that they meet high standards for what accomplished educators should know and be able to achieve.

Educators achieve certification after completing a series of assessments that include teaching portfolios, student work samples, videotapes, and rigorous analyses of their classroom teaching and student learning. Candidates also complete a series of written exercises that probe the depth of their subject-matter knowledge and their understanding of how to teach those subjects to their students.

Full-time, non-administrative MCPS educators receive an additional $2,000 in their MCPS salary each year as long as they retain a valid NBPTS certification. The state matches the local salary supplement with a stipend up to a maximum of $2,000 per year for educators who meet the eligibility requirements set by the state.

A listing of the 85 new National Board Certified MCPS educators and their schools is at the link before.