Biology teacher Karen Doerrler was recently certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, which assesses teachers nationwide on a standard level that is created by teachers, for teachers. 

The NBPTS uses research on the best teaching practices to improve teaching and therefore improve learning as well as defining and recognizing accomplished teaching. It was founded in 1987 with Governor James B. Hunt Jr. serving as first chair for the Board of Directors.

The NBPTS Certificate took Doerrler three years to finish. “I had to document different areas and take a written test,” Doerrler said. “As well as videotape two of my classes for two assessments and document planning.” The certificate requires document projects and create a portfolio relating to classroom-based research, teaching strategies, leadership in their field, school, and school district.  

Once teachers get the certification they are nationally certified for ten years, like ESOL teacher Margaret Vanbuskirk, who first received the certification in 2006 and got re-certified in 2016. For their re-certification teachers have to redo the projects and portfolio but do not have to take the test again.

Montgomery County Public Schools wants all teachers to get the certification, “It’s something all MCPS teachers know about because MCEA (Montgomery County Education Association) promotes it,” Doerrler says. MCPS also offers teachers an extra stipend for getting the award to help compensate them for their work.

However, the stipend wasn’t the main motivation for Doerrler to get the certification. She wanted the certificate to, “become a better teacher and prove that I was a good teacher,” Doerrler said.

Vanbuskirk says she is “proud to have the certification because I do care a lot about my job and it’s an outward sign of my dedication.” She recommends other teachers get the award if they have a lot of free time, “it is a lot of work, I found it interesting, and of course an extra stipend is nice,” Vanbuskirk added.