Nine Area Teachers Earn Prestigious National Board Certification

January 3, 2024

Nine Area Teachers Earn Prestigious National Board Certification

Española, NM – Nine teachers from Northern New Mexico have been recognized by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) as National Board Certified Teachers. The teachers were part of the LANL Foundation’s National Board Certification for Local Teachers Program. National Board Certification is one of the highest forms of certification for educators and a recognition of accomplished teaching. Statewide, 70 teachers and counselors were named as achieving their National Board Certification.

“Having more nationally certified teachers in our region is a win-win. The teachers who earn this prestigious recognition are able to reflect on their practice, make more money, and stay in the profession that they love,” said Michael Dabrieo, Education Enrichment Director at the LANL Foundation. “Meanwhile, our students also benefit by having access to some of the best professional educators in the country.”

Candidates who achieved in December 2023 worked with Professional Learning Facilitators from the New Mexico NBCT Network and Pat Graff’s Candidate Support Service. The LANL Foundation is proud to partner with local and statewide organizations to support educators in pursuing certification. These 9 teachers submitted their applications in the spring of 2023 after completing a rigorous portfolio and assessment process. 

“I’m so grateful to the [LANL] Foundation for their support in this process, from covering the retake fees to paying for the mentors,” said Rachel Gersh, who was certified as a Middle Childhood Generalist. “I honestly would not have passed without them! How anyone does this successfully on their own is a mystery to me.”

The NBPTS (National Board for Professional Teaching Standards) process offers an opportunity for teachers to advance their professional status (including licensure advancement and a significant pay differential) through National Board Certification (NBC). Research shows teachers who have achieved their NBC see increased student academic performance and success within the classroom. 

The NBCT program can take one to three years, depending on how a candidate manages the components. Three portfolio components and a test are required for a candidate’s application to be considered. Cohort support from the LANL Foundation is comprehensive, covering class fees per participant, including 1:1 and small group support, candidate retreats, and NBPTS component costs as well as technical support. Several candidates also received financial reimbursement through the New Mexico Public Education Department’s NBCT Scholarship.

LANL Foundation’s support for local teachers pursuing National Board Certification is through a partnership with TRIAD National Security LLC and the LANL Community Partnerships Office.

The following nine teachers were recognized as Nationally Board Certified on December 9^th, 2023.

Since 1997, the LANL Foundation has been investing in education, learning, and human potential in Northern New Mexico. Through diverse programming and collaboration with key partners, the LANL Foundation works to ensure that all New Mexicans have the skills and confidence they need to be self-sufficient lifelong learners who are engaged in their communities. LANL Foundation is dedicated to the enhancement of students’ access to academic and technical opportunities, leading to quality jobs by supporting college and career readiness in schools, districts, communities, Pueblos, Tribes, and Nations. For more information visit: https://www.lanlfoundation.org.

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