Should Georgia Pay National Board Certified Teachers What They Are Worth?

An attempt is underway to introduce legislation that will be a good incentive for teachers with National Board Certification. Democratic Representatives Smyre, Porter, Hygley, Ashe, and Randall are sponsoring HB 1136, in support of supplementing pay for teachers certified as National Board Certified Teachers. This legislation, seeks to restore the pay in full for National Board Certification at all schools, regardless of when the educator receives the certification.

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is a volunteer way to try to address teachers showing teachers are highly effective, or highly qualified. Through the certification process, the teachers must demonstrate, and gain recognition for knowledge and teaching skills. A group of peer National Board Professionals evaluates the candidates’ effectiveness. According to Goldhaber and Anthony (2004), the National Board for Professional Standards Committee definitely identifies the most effective teachers among the applications received to participate in the program. The National Board Professionals appears to pick the best applicants to go through the process. The candidates selected also are normally more effective as teachers even before becoming candidates for the program (Goldhaber & Anthony, 2004).

As a teacher I have thought about going through this process several times. However, first it is expensive to go through the process with only the possibility of becoming certified. Secondly, it take a great deal of time and energy which the literature also indicates could take away from the ability of a teacher to instruct the students while going through the National Board Certification Process. Would it be reasonable to pay for these teachers' services and for expertise for becoming National Board Professionally Certified in Georgia? Georgia avocated for its teachers to get certified for a long period of time. What do you think?

Reference:

Goldhaber, D., & Anthony E., (2004). Can Teacher Quality Be Effectively Assessed Report NO. NCRTL_RR-(@-4). East Lansing, MI: National Center for Research on Teacher Learning. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED347346).