Marcie Jett (left) and Cary Smith have achieved national certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). (Submitted photos)
LA PLATA, Md. (February 7, 2012)—Two Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) teachers recently joined the ranks of accomplished teachers nationwide who achieved national certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).
The teachers – Marcie Jett and Cary Smith – completed a yearlong performance-based assessment series to become National Board Certified Teachers, according to a December release by the NBPTS. Jett and Smith join 31 other Charles County Public Schools teachers who hold national certification status.
Jett is a special education teacher at Piccowaxen Middle School and earned an exceptional needs specialist/early childhood through young adulthood certificate. Jett began her career with the school system in 2001 at Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School as a special education teacher and moved to Piccowaxen in 2007.
Smith is an English teacher at North Point High School and earned her certificate in English language arts/adolescence and young adulthood. She started her career with Charles County Public Schools in 2003 as a language arts teacher at Mattawoman Middle School. She transferred to North Point in 2005, when the school opened.
National Board Certified Teachers must complete a rigorous review of their skills and work, which includes teacher portfolios, student work samples, videotapes, and thorough analysis of the candidates’ classroom teaching and student learning. Teachers also complete a series of written exercises that probe the depth of their subject-matter knowledge and their understanding of how to teach that material to students.
Jett and Smith join 6,200 teachers nationwide who were certified in 2011. Certification is valid for 10 years, after which a teacher may seek renewal. As of last month, Maryland has 2,214 teachers who are nationally certified and is one of the top 10 states with the highest participation in the certification process.
By achieving National Board Certification, Charles County teachers are eligible for a $2,500 stipend added to their annual salary as well as an annual $1,000 incentive from the Maryland State Department of Education as long as they remain in the classroom and maintain their National Board Certification.
“National Board Certification is proven to have a positive impact on student achievement, and I commend these teachers for successfully completing the rigorous application process to earn national certification. Their hard work speaks to their commitment to children and academic success,” said Superintendent James E. Richmond.
Only teachers with a standard or advanced professional certificate who have a minimum of three years successful teaching experience are eligible to apply for National Board Certification. Information about NBPTS can be found at the NBPTS Web site at www.nbpts.org.
Source: Charles County Public Schools