National Board Certified Teacher | Jan Albert

National Board Certification

If there were a vocabulary list of important words relating to the lessons learned in gaining National Board Certification, it would certainly include self-reflection, introspection and giving all that is learned to benefit students.

As with any important educational accomplishment National Board Certification is challenging and thereby rewarding, according to Albert.

National Board for Certification is the profession’s means of identifying and recognizing teachers who meet criteria of excellence – essentially teacher established standards for teachers to meet. And a challenging process it is says Ross, who recently received certification out of a not uncommon second attempt.

Reflection

“The thing I remember most when beginning the National Board process was Cyntha Slavish and how grateful I was that she would be helping me and the whole group of us who decided to take this journey,” says Albert, who like most teachers seeking the honor applied more than once.

“The second thing I remember most was how much I hated entry Number 4. Entry Number 4 is about your documented accomplishments. You have to look at yourself as a teacher, as a partner with parents and families and as a member of the learning community and document things you have accomplished over the past five years that go above and beyond what teachers do in the course of their work. I think all teachers go above and beyond every day, and it felt like bragging to me. It was very uncomfortable and, for my first year at attempting to gain certification, it was one of my lowest scoring entries. This time, I looked at entry Number 4 more closely and realized that it was not about bragging, it was about reflecting. Ultimately, it ended up being one of my highest scoring entries, and the tipping point that helped me earn certification.

“The best part of this journey is the self-reflection that I had to do,” Albert continued. “I really believe I am a better teacher because of this process. Watching yourself in video is hard to do, at least it is for me, but it is a valuable tool to help you really see yourself as you are. I found some things I liked, and I found some things I didn’t, and made changes accordingly. As much as I dislike doing it, I think it is a practice I will continue to use. I have learned so much, and I still have so much to learn.

Thankful For Support

“This journey took me two years to complete, and I am still kind of in a state of shock that I made it. I know I couldn’t have done it alone, and I am grateful to many people for helping me get there. My husband and daughters are my strongest cheerleaders. This process takes a lot of time and can be very stressful on relationships. I remember my husband being so excited for me when I first began the journey and so frustrated last spring that so much time was being spent on certification. I was not spending as much time with him; I was tired all of the time; and I was short tempered at home sometimes. He took a lot of my stress. Teaching and certification became all I did for the last couple of months before the deadline. Fortunately, he also understood how important this was to me. He believed in me all of the way. My daughters, Brittany and Rebecca, read, critiqued and edited all of my entries. They helped me turn 20 pages of too many words into 10 pages of meaning and helped me meet the requirements for submission. The group of fellow teachers I worked with was also extremely supportive to me, and I hope I was to them. I thank them all for everything they did. This is not a journey that I could have done alone. I feel very lucky and very blessed.

That is also how Albert feels about her career. As she says, “I have been a teacher since earning my degree from UW-Whitewater in Dec of 2003, so this is my 12th year as a teacher. Before that my educational background included graduating from Janesville Parker High, an Associates Degree in accounting from Blackhawk Tech, and a Youth Ministry Certification from Wartburg Seminary.

[See image gallery at beloitschools.org]

I Wanted To Be A Teacher

“I began teaching in Beloit in January of 2004 as an 8th grade science and social studies teacher, then moved to Morgan after one-and-a-half years to teach 4th, then 5th grade. I am now at Fruzen as a looping teacher for grades 4 and 5. Other than subbing, my entire teaching career has been in Beloit,” says Albert who adds, “I earned a Master of Science degree in Action Research from UW-Lacrosse in 2010.

“I think I wanted to be a teacher my whole life but, for many reasons, things didn’t work out for that to happen until my children were close to grown. My favorite part of teaching is the students — without a doubt. Everything I can think to say sounds corny to me, but it’s true — I just love working with kids. One of my greatest joys is helping students believe in themselves, and believe that it is possible for them to become whomever and whatever they dream of growing to be.

“I went into teaching because I hoped I could make a positive difference in children’s lives, and even the lives of their families. The best times are when a student’s family and I become partners in learning. That’s when good things really start happening.

What I’ve Learned

“The National Board Process was a way for me to continue learning and growing as a teacher and as a person. Through the process there is a lot of reflection, which is something that often gets puts aside because of all of the other outside demands of teachers. That reflection helped me and still continues to help me see what things are working in my classroom, and also find where I can improve. It’s a continual, ever-changing process. It’s a tough process with a lot of stress, but in the end it’s been worth it.

In the end, Albert says, “There are really two major things I learned that have translated into the way I teach differently, better I hope. The first thing is more student independence. I always thought that I was working to build independent learners in my classroom but, as I watched the videos of my teaching, I realized that much of the discussion we did as a class or in groups still centered on me as the leader and director of things. Now one of the things that I try really hard to accomplish is for me to sit back, watch and take note, but let students discuss and share ideas.

They are learning to self-direct, and they are also doing a wonderful job of making sure that every student has a voice when discussion is happening. It is so powerful and so amazing to watch and listen to.  I am still working on this, to be sure, but I really believe this is the right way to ‘teach.’  I don’t want to teach students WHAT to learn, I want them to know HOW to learn.

Reflection

“As far as reflection, we are doing a lot more reflection as a class, especially in writing for all subjects. We also do a lot of reflective discussion. For myself, I do a lot more reflecting on my own teaching and on my students both as individuals and as a class. It is still really hard to find time to do this, but I make time because I believe reflection is so important. Reflection helps me know when it’s time to celebrate what is happening, when some small changes are needed, and when a sharp turn is needed for our classroom.”

Certainly Albert’s classroom is a mirror of her dedication to and excellence in her profession.

About National Board Certification

National Board Certification (NBC) indicates a teacher is more than highly qualified, demonstrating not only content knowledge and teaching methods, but deeper understanding of multiple content areas and overwhelming proof of increased student achievement as a result of the teacher’s instructional strategies.
Only 1-2% of the state’s teachers have this highest certification; less than 3% of teachers nationwide have achieved this level.

The process involves completing four portfolio entries, combining written assessments and video samples of the teachers in the classroom, to provide judges the proof of each candidates’ eligibility to receive this top certification. The process is voluntary; a little over a third of the participants pass on their first attempt. Certificates are only valid for 10 years, requiring NBC teachers to continue their professional growth and excellent instruction.

The post National Board Certified Teacher | Jan Albert appeared first on School District of Beloit News.