Aiken County teachers earn National Board Certification

One key component of National Board Certification for educators is self-exploration of one's teaching and classroom management skills.

"I learned a great deal about myself and teaching throughout the process," said Silver Bluff High math teacher Ken Spence, announced Wednesday as a recipient of the prestigious certification. "The best knowledge I gained was getting parents involved."

Spence was one of just four Aiken County teachers who obtained the certification in the current cycle. A total of 498 teachers did so statewide, as South Carolina continues to rank third nationally in the total number over the past 12 years with 7,784.

The other three educators are Pam Corbett, a Busbee Elementary School guidance counselor; Melesia Farkas, a Busbee teacher; and Ashley Burns, a Belvedere Elementary School teacher.

Teachers who seek National Board Certification must complete a rigorous process that can take from one to three years. They must reflect on their classroom practices, demonstrate an understanding of the subject material and produce one or more videos of classroom teaching.

After 28 years in education, Corbett feels the process has given her more information to help her deal with students. Guidance counseling has changed significantly in recent years. Counselors can focus more on student needs, as they are no longer asked to coordinate testing and handle the accompanying paperwork.

"I have been made more aware of the boundaries that are keeping a child from learning," Corbett said. "I've learned more about what I can do to help a student improve. I wanted to get more involved in my job and see what I can do at this point of my career."

Initially, state lawmakers provided an annual bonus for certified teachers of $7,500 for 10 years and an opportunity for renewal. That amount was recently reduced to $5,000.

Concerns about the cost of bonuses have been expressed by some state legislators in past years. That issue could emerge again in 2011, as they face huge budget challenges.

"We know a lot of tough decisions need to be made," said Jimmy Minichello, an executive with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). "But the best opportunity for quality education is highly-effective teachers. There is a preponderance of research that shows the effect of National Board Certification. The students of those teachers score higher than those who don't have them."

Minichello and Karen Garr, a regional NBPTS staffer whose area includes South Carolina, are hopeful that legislators will continue to see the benefits to students and schools and maintain the funding.

"South Carolina is getting something else," Garr said. "These teachers who become board-certified also become leaders in their schools. They help with professional development and write curriculum. ... It's a really valuable thing."

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.