For the third consecutive year, Washington ranks first nationwide for having the largest number of new National Board Certified teachers. A total of 329 Washington teachers achieved the certification this year.
Evergreen Public Schools ranks third in the state, but first among Clark County school districts in national certification. The district had 17 teachers who earned the certification in 2015. Other county school districts had the following number of teachers achieve national certification this year: Vancouver, five; Battle Ground, three; Camas and Ridgefield, two each; La Center and Woodland, one each.
Nationwide, fewer teachers were certified in 2015 because the National Board began moving to a new certification process in 2014 that changed to a process that can take up to three years. Teachers pay $2,500 to go through the process. Not all those who attempt certification attain it.
Certification takes 200 to 400 hours to complete. Teachers submit a four-part portfolio and a six-exercise assessment. The 10 entries documenting a teacher’s success in the classroom are assessed by a national panel of peers.
