1. Achieving National Board Certification Together: Using a Support Group Presented by: Lauren Ormsby, NBCT & Support Provider

2. Objectives Expectations of Support Provider Expectations of Support Provider Expectations of Candidate Expectations of Candidate What is a support provider What is a support provider Support Group Timeline Support Group Timeline District Support District Support Questions Questions

3. Expectations of Support Provider Intellectual, Technical, Logistical and Emotional Support Intellectual, Technical, Logistical and Emotional Support Make an investment of time, schedule meetings and remain committed to the schedule Make an investment of time, schedule meetings and remain committed to the schedule Offer challenging ideas and serve as a “critical friend” Offer challenging ideas and serve as a “critical friend” Help build self-confidence Help build self-confidence Be familiar with NBPTS Standards Be familiar with NBPTS Standards Understand the assessment process Understand the assessment process Listen non-judgmentally; and ask probing questions Listen non-judgmentally; and ask probing questions (Adapted from the Washington Initiative for National Board Certification)

4. Expectations of Support Provider con’t Offer friendship and support Offer friendship and support Read entries and be able to assist any candidate in the group Read entries and be able to assist any candidate in the group Offer thoughtful and detailed feedback Offer thoughtful and detailed feedback Encourage analytical reflection Encourage analytical reflection Provide resources Provide resources Help candidates get organized and set priorities Help candidates get organized and set priorities Maintain confidentiality Maintain confidentiality Respect individual writing and teaching styles Respect individual writing and teaching styles (Adapted from the Washington Initiative for National Board Certification)

5. Expectations of Candidates Make an investment of time, attend all meetings, and remain committed to the schedule Make an investment of time, attend all meetings, and remain committed to the schedule Accept the challenge ahead and be open to new and different perspectives on teaching and learning Accept the challenge ahead and be open to new and different perspectives on teaching and learning Share fears, concerns and issues Share fears, concerns and issues Read study and internalize the NBPTS Standards Read study and internalize the NBPTS Standards Read all entry directions. Know the portfolio and AC requirements Read all entry directions. Know the portfolio and AC requirements Listen non-judgmentally and ask follow up questions; reflect deeply Listen non-judgmentally and ask follow up questions; reflect deeply (Adapted from the Washington Initiative for National Board Certification) (Adapted from the Washington Initiative for National Board Certification)

6. Expectation of Candidates con’t Accept friendship and support Accept friendship and support Be prepared to share your entries and provide feedback on other’s entries Be prepared to share your entries and provide feedback on other’s entries Engage in analytical reflection Engage in analytical reflection Utilize resource made available to you Utilize resource made available to you Get organized, including personal life and work schedule. Set priorities Get organized, including personal life and work schedule. Set priorities Maintain confidentiality Maintain confidentiality Know that what is in your portfolio is yours and that all decisions are ultimately yours Know that what is in your portfolio is yours and that all decisions are ultimately yours (Adapted from the Washington Initiative for National Board Certification)

7. What is Candidate Support? Candidate support is…Candidate Support is not… Fostering long-term, evolving professional development Providing one shot, “one size fits all” staff development Using NBCTs as facilitators and advocatesReferring to NBCT as mentors rather than facilitators Focusing on student achievement above all elsePromoting advanced teacher salary or an “elite status” Offering non-judgmental, honest and constructive feedback Creating divisive, competitive, or otherwise unprofessional culture Helping candidates improve their writing through collaboration “Correcting” candidates work or making decisions for them Promoting ethical treatment of teachers and use of materials Causing candidates to become obsessive over minutia Improving teacher practice and professional growth Encouraging shortcuts or unprofessional practices Maintaining focus on what matters mostReinforcing a pass/fail mentality Adapted from Kathy Schwalbe, NBCT

8. Support Group Timeline August/September Awareness Sessions Awareness Sessions Recruitment Recruitment Support Group formation Support Group formation Begin monthly support group meetings Begin monthly support group meetingsDecember/January 2 day writing retreat 2 day writing retreatMarch One day “packing” retreat One day “packing” retreatApril/May Study and take Assessment Portion Study and take Assessment Portion Wait for scores Wait for scores

9. District Support (Candidate “wish-list”) Encouragement Encouragement Clerical Support Clerical Support Access to high quality video camera with tripod Access to high quality video camera with tripod Eight high quality video tapes Eight high quality video tapes Access to experienced camera person to tape videos Access to experienced camera person to tape videos Access to editing equipment to make copies of video tapes Access to editing equipment to make copies of video tapes Release days Release days One directional (PMZ) microphone ($40-$60) One directional (PMZ) microphone ($40-$60) In-service credit for the hours involved attending support meetings In-service credit for the hours involved attending support meetings A waiver from direct supervision and annual goals for the school year. A waiver from direct supervision and annual goals for the school year. Help editing and reflecting on the portfolio entries and videos Help editing and reflecting on the portfolio entries and videos Recognition for the effort Recognition for the effort (Adapted from Johnson & Romano, 2001)

10. Questions???