Dear Colleagues,

I recently attended the launch of  Project RESPECT in DC.  The  work and initiatives integrate a focus on the voice of the teacher in shaping and governing reforms in teacher education and evaluation systems. Funding will be provided for numerous projects as we move forward with legislation.  National Board Certified Teachers will be accessed more regularly in more roles across the country.

I hope you have a moment to view the event and to join the NU-PTDC in leveraging the conversation and initiatives to shape improvements in our PK-12 schools and learning environments.  Collaboratively and collectively we will make an impact.  You can view the event at this link:

RESPECT Launch

I look forward to seeming many of you on JUNE 9, at the annual NU NBCT reception and symposium. We will have a special opportunity to view the Mitchell 20 movie as part of the weekend activities. Mark your calendars for a trip to La Jolla!

Rae Adams
Director, NUPTDC

The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing recently released a message regarding implementation of Senate Bill 941.  The bill, which concerns the use of National Board Certification to clear credentials of California teachers, may have a hug impact on current and future NBCTs.  Prior to this bill, NB Certification could only clear a credential if the NBCT held a preliminary credential in the same subject area.  This bill would enable NBCTs who earned certification in an area other than the one they hold a preliminary credential to clear a second one.  For example, a teacher with a multiple subject credential who becomes certified in AYA English Language Arts could earn a clear Single Subject English credential. 

While we are awaiting further clarification of how this will work, check out the release for more information:

Implementation of Senate Bill 941 Concerning National Board Certification

The Obama Administration's 2013 proposed budget includes a new $5 billion competitive program to challenge states and districts to work with teachers, unions, colleges of education and other stakeholders to comprehensively reform the field of teaching. The proposal touches on every phase of teaching from training and tenure to compensation and career opportunities.  For more details, check out this announcements on the Ed Gov site:

Obama Administration Seeks to Elevate Teaching Profession, Duncan to Launch RESPECT Project: Teacher-Led National Conversation

Check out this article about a study from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's most recent release from its study on "Measures of Effective Teaching."  The article entitled The Challenge of Teaching Higher-Order Skills explores the implications of the findings of this study, and also has a link to the complete report.  The findings "would appear to highlight some fairly consistent weaknesses in instruction and raise big question marks for teacher and leadership preparation—especially since the common-core state standards call for teachers to help students master precisely these kinds of higher-order reasoning and analytical skills."  They are also highly relevant to our work in aligning instructional practices to the National Board Standards.