Maryland Teachers - who is doing NBPTS?

[Anonymous]

The number of emails sent begging teachers to sign up for this borders on harassment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

This sounds absolutely nuts

It's mostly possible; it's all basically good teaching. But you don't necessarily do all of these things with each lesson, and you certainly don't document it all with just 6 pages of evidence. And while I might use self assessment with students, I don't necessarily do it in the same unit that will allow me to showcase how well I researched their needs from family and community members. It's the requirement that everything be smooshed together into one unit (and they only give me 5 pages to write it all up) that is crazy making.

But whatever - I'm doing it. It's not the best unit but it will check everything off on the rubric.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The number of emails sent begging teachers to sign up for this borders on harassment.

Really? Why would anyone be pressuring you to do this? It seems like the salary raise would be inducement enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was planning to start this year but realized I need to submit at least one component this year if I got the MCPS scholarship. I am teaching a new course so it seemed a bad idea workload wise. I plan to apply for the scholarship in the spring, do jump start, and work on components next year. I am worried that my curriculum is not a good fit. It’s a very technical STEM course designed around prep for career exams. Not a lot of leeway with assessments. I can even edit the pdfs and presentations easily.

It sounds like you are saying you have a scripted curriculum? Yeah, I am not sure you can really pursue NBCT if you have no ability to alter your curriculum based on your knowledge of student needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The number of emails sent begging teachers to sign up for this borders on harassment.

Really? Why would anyone be pressuring you to do this? It seems like the salary raise would be inducement enough.

Every week we get at least one email urging us to consider doing it. It is the organization that does the NB certification that sends the emails.
Last spring through early fall there were multiple emails per week. The pace has slowed down recently. I assume it is a money maker for the non-profit organization

[Anonymous]

I am in VA and qualified years ago. I found the process helpful to my teaching practice though not any more earth shattering than some extra grad school classes I took. The major benefit has been a pay boost (and compared to MD’s bonuses mine is peanuts). But as a single teacher with a mortgage, it has allowed me to not work summer school to make ends meet. I always recommend it to younger teachers because over the course of a 30-year career the extra money really adds up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am in VA and qualified years ago. I found the process helpful to my teaching practice though not any more earth shattering than some extra grad school classes I took. The major benefit has been a pay boost (and compared to MD’s bonuses mine is peanuts). But as a single teacher with a mortgage, it has allowed me to not work summer school to make ends meet. I always recommend it to younger teachers because over the course of a 30-year career the extra money really adds up.

I hope to do it in a couple years but as a year 3 teacher I am already overwhelmed by the work load.
I have to prepare all my content for every lesson. And I have large classes.
Hoping that if I get through this year, it will get easier

[Anonymous]

Bumping this up -- anyone in the middle of it now?

I'm finishing my rough draft for C2 and C4 and am SO done with it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am in VA and qualified years ago. I found the process helpful to my teaching practice though not any more earth shattering than some extra grad school classes I took. The major benefit has been a pay boost (and compared to MD’s bonuses mine is peanuts). But as a single teacher with a mortgage, it has allowed me to not work summer school to make ends meet. I always recommend it to younger teachers because over the course of a 30-year career the extra money really adds up.

I hope to do it in a couple years but as a year 3 teacher I am already overwhelmed by the work load.
I have to prepare all my content for every lesson. And I have large classes.
Hoping that if I get through this year, it will get easier

I would wait until at least your 5th year of teaching.

[Anonymous]

How often do you have to recertify, and what's that process?

I'm a teacher level position but not a classroom teacher so I don't even qualify.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How often do you have to recertify, and what's that process?

I'm a teacher level position but not a classroom teacher so I don't even qualify.

It's every 5 years now.

$570

Submit two components (instead of 4)

Component 1 - identify two professional growth areas, write 8 pages about them, submit documentation as evidence of how it impacted student learning.

Component 2 - design a lesson related to one area in component 1, write a lesson plan, submit a 10 minute video, write an 5 page paper about it.

https://www.nbpts.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/MOC_Instructions.pdf

[Anonymous]

I plan to apply for the scholarship this spring and start next year. Ill probably work on it over two years.

I wish teachers didnt have to jump through so many hoops just to get a reasonable raise.

[Anonymous]

Well, it's submitted - hope for the best for me!

[Anonymous]

Just about every teacher I know in MD is thinking about NBCT now if not already certified.

[Anonymous]

It is a bunch of hooey but that is pretty much what education has become. Jump through a bunch hoops and add more titles to your name.