Pre-Service Candidate Support
National University is proud to offer candidates seeking an initial license/credential to teach, the opportunity to shape their preparation journey with a distinction that matters: Knowledge and interactions with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (www.nbpts.org). We are a leading university in the country supporting teachers to become NBCTs with assistance from more than 120 National Board Certified Teacher adjunct faculty (www.nu.edu)
National Board Standards are used to define what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do in more than 25 certificate areas. The National Board Certification Assessment is designed for experienced teachers (after year three) who volunteer to measure their effectiveness in a performance based assessment (like a TPA) against these standards (nbpts.org). A teacher must provide evidence of student learning in the work they submit for scoring to the NBPTS. In a growing numbers of school districts and states, earning National Board Certification is required for MASTER teacher status, increased pay or leadership positions. National Board Certification is a distinction that represents a symbol of the highest level of excellence in teaching and learning that can be earned for P-12 educators.
As a candidate in a teacher preparation program, it is likely that you have NOT been formally introduced to NBPTS, their standards, research based resources, tools and opportunities. Most faculty in universities across the country have limited experiences with the standards at the undergraduate level, as the NBPTS designed the assessment for experienced, accomplished teachers at a graduate level.
At National University, the NBCT Professional Teaching and Leadership Development Center (NUPTDC) offers aspiring, new and experienced teachers access to all of the rich NBPTS resources, including online NBCT mentors. Students in the 21st century need teachers who are critical thinkers, problem solvers, action researchers, creative, innovative, and self-reliant. The NBPTS certificate specific standards and the Architecture of Accomplished Teaching offer models and measures to develop these qualities and habits of mind at ANY level of development. The National Board Standards integrate the InTASC standards and support successful implementation of Common Core standards for P-12 students in alignment with each discipline and developmental age ranges. Additionally, the national Teacher Performance Assessments demand candidates to demonstrate skills, knowledge and dispositions that are directly reflected in the National Board Standards and parallel tasks and events that must be successfully completed to earn a teaching license in a growing number of states.
As a pre-service candidate, we want to offer you the opportunity to stretch and deepen your thinking and to provide you with models of accomplished teachers who can help to build your evidence based habits of mind as you learn to teach. You can distinguish your preparation journey and stand out in the crowd of teachers who seek employment. We encourage you to consider an invitation to voluntarily join the Alliance of National Board Educators and accept the challenge to learn about National Board tools, standards, processes and assessments BEFORE you start teaching. Shape habits of mind that parallel your pre-service coursework and clinical field experiences by adding a distinguished component: Deliberate exploration of the NBPTS Core Propositions, standards, Architecture of Accomplished Teaching and interactions with NBCTs, virtually and onground. There are no grades, NO FEES, no extra courses. You will engage in tasks, webinars and conversations, by choice.
If you volunteer to take the “distinguished journey” with the NUPTDC, you will join our online community. As a result of completing several NB related tasks, as outlined by the NBCT mentors, the NU-PTDC will provide a letter of reference and certificate of completion of Accomplished National Board Preparation Foundations that you may include in your portfolios for employers. Your long term goal includes earning National Board Certification.
The NU-PTDC Distinguished Pathway is a choice, not a requirement. YOU determine your readiness, willingness, and courage to learn and practice at higher levels while earning your traditional teaching credential.
As a result of experiencing the NB tasks, you will be able to provide additional evidence of your ability to impact student learning, prior to getting your first job. You will have lifetime connections with NBCTs from across the county in a virtual professional community designed to provide resources, support, colleagueship and inspiration to continuously develop and learn.
We are anxious to meet you, our future NBCTs!
Ronarae Adams, NBCT
Director, NU-PTDC
Lead Faculty, School of Education
radams@nu.edu 858-642-8352
National Board Standards are used to define what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do in more than 25 certificate areas. The National Board Certification Assessment is designed for experienced teachers (after year three) who volunteer to measure their effectiveness in a performance based assessment (like a TPA) against these standards (nbpts.org). A teacher must provide evidence of student learning in the work they submit for scoring to the NBPTS. In a growing numbers of school districts and states, earning National Board Certification is required for MASTER teacher status, increased pay or leadership positions. National Board Certification is a distinction that represents a symbol of the highest level of excellence in teaching and learning that can be earned for P-12 educators.
As a candidate in a teacher preparation program, it is likely that you have NOT been formally introduced to NBPTS, their standards, research based resources, tools and opportunities. Most faculty in universities across the country have limited experiences with the standards at the undergraduate level, as the NBPTS designed the assessment for experienced, accomplished teachers at a graduate level.
At National University, the NBCT Professional Teaching and Leadership Development Center (NUPTDC) offers aspiring, new and experienced teachers access to all of the rich NBPTS resources, including online NBCT mentors. Students in the 21st century need teachers who are critical thinkers, problem solvers, action researchers, creative, innovative, and self-reliant. The NBPTS certificate specific standards and the Architecture of Accomplished Teaching offer models and measures to develop these qualities and habits of mind at ANY level of development. The National Board Standards integrate the InTASC standards and support successful implementation of Common Core standards for P-12 students in alignment with each discipline and developmental age ranges. Additionally, the national Teacher Performance Assessments demand candidates to demonstrate skills, knowledge and dispositions that are directly reflected in the National Board Standards and parallel tasks and events that must be successfully completed to earn a teaching license in a growing number of states.
As a pre-service candidate, we want to offer you the opportunity to stretch and deepen your thinking and to provide you with models of accomplished teachers who can help to build your evidence based habits of mind as you learn to teach. You can distinguish your preparation journey and stand out in the crowd of teachers who seek employment. We encourage you to consider an invitation to voluntarily join the Alliance of National Board Educators and accept the challenge to learn about National Board tools, standards, processes and assessments BEFORE you start teaching. Shape habits of mind that parallel your pre-service coursework and clinical field experiences by adding a distinguished component: Deliberate exploration of the NBPTS Core Propositions, standards, Architecture of Accomplished Teaching and interactions with NBCTs, virtually and onground. There are no grades, NO FEES, no extra courses. You will engage in tasks, webinars and conversations, by choice.
If you volunteer to take the “distinguished journey” with the NUPTDC, you will join our online community. As a result of completing several NB related tasks, as outlined by the NBCT mentors, the NU-PTDC will provide a letter of reference and certificate of completion of Accomplished National Board Preparation Foundations that you may include in your portfolios for employers. Your long term goal includes earning National Board Certification.
The NU-PTDC Distinguished Pathway is a choice, not a requirement. YOU determine your readiness, willingness, and courage to learn and practice at higher levels while earning your traditional teaching credential.
As a result of experiencing the NB tasks, you will be able to provide additional evidence of your ability to impact student learning, prior to getting your first job. You will have lifetime connections with NBCTs from across the county in a virtual professional community designed to provide resources, support, colleagueship and inspiration to continuously develop and learn.
We are anxious to meet you, our future NBCTs!
Ronarae Adams, NBCT
Director, NU-PTDC
Lead Faculty, School of Education
radams@nu.edu 858-642-8352
