earned her National Board Certification, but "it was no walk in the
park," she admitted. Although she completed the program in one year,
her most trying obstacles evolved around self-evaluation. The process
required Rudolph to take a video camera to class and tape her
classroom interactions. She was often her own worst critic, but in the
end her instruction improved, students were more engaged and her
biology students have a greater understanding of science.
"Sometimes as a teacher you can't see the forest for the trees.
[Evaluating] allows you to see what you could improve upon. You have
to point out some of your flaws and say I could have done this and
this," said Rudolph. "I'm evaluating my practice. I can say, 'Next
time we will pour this and have this result.'"
Rudolph, who also won the North Carolina Outstanding Biology Teacher
Award, is one of 122 new National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) in
CMS. The certification is considered as the "gold standard" for
teaching excellence and the district boasts 1,854 of its teachers
having achieved this professional certification. CMS is ranked fourth
nationally for the most certified teachers.
The Board of Education, Interim Superintendent Hugh Hattabaugh and the
Teacher Professional Development Department will honor these teachers
in a ceremony on Jan. 19 from 4:15-6:30 p.m. at Mallard Creek High
School, 3825 Johnston Oehler Rd.
NBCT distinction is achieved by performance-based assessment and
testing that takes one to three years to complete. This voluntary
assessment program is designed to develop, retain and recognize
accomplished teachers and to embed ongoing school improvement in that
nation's schools. NBCT must demonstrate advanced teaching knowledge,
skills and practices within their given discipline. By completing the
certification process, it signifies that teachers have developed and
demonstrated the skills required of an accomplished education
professional.
For Rudolph, the certification was the credentials she needed to call
herself a professional. She said she learned a lot about herself
during the process and even found that students would respond better
when she slowed down directions to them. She said it decreased the
number of questions students asked when she gave instructions.
NBCT supports 25 certification areas. Nationwide, 6,200 teachers
earned their certifications last year which totals 100,000 board
certified teachers.
For more information about National Board Certified Teachers, go to www.nbpts.org
.
