CTU, Mayor Johnson, IFT, CPS celebrate new, renewing NBCTs for achieving the profession’s highest honor
The 36 new National Board Certified Teachers and 80 NBCTs who renewed their NBCT certificates were honored recently at the CPS Board of Education and a celebration at Curie Metropolitan High School. At the CTU/CPS celebration, Mayor Brandon Johnson, CTU Vice President Jackson Potter and IFT President Dan Montgomery saluted the educators for their passion and dedication to honing their craft and providing their students with high-quality instruction.
Tamara Dudley, vice president of advocacy and communications for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards gave the keynote address. And CPS Chief Education Officer Bogdana Chkoumbova also spoke.
In his remarks, the mayor joked that, at one point, he had toyed with the idea of getting his NBCT certification, but thought running for mayor would be easier.
“Seriously, though, as we continue to support NBCTs, I’m confident our students will continue to receive the best possible instruction that is available to them. By increasing the number of NBCTs, we can improve the quality of life of our students and the impact of the education system,” Johnson said. “And let this not be a passing moment, but a moment that we continue to grow in, especially as our profession still remains a target for those who do not believe in public accommodations.”
Mayor Johnson then joined CTU Vice President Jackson Potter, CPS Chief Education Officer Bogdana Chkoumbova, and IFT President Dan Montgomery to award certificates to the NBCT cohort.
In remarks to Chicago’s new and newly renewed NBCTs, Lynn Cherkasky-Davis, Director of Teacher Leadership at the CTUF Quest Center, and Manager of the CTU/CPS National Board Certification program, said, “I am so proud to honor our new NBCTs who have spent more than 400 hours over two years enhancing their pedagogy, collecting and analyzing student work, creating a portfolio of their practice, partnering with colleagues, parents, and community, studying videotapes of their teaching in order to improve their instruction, and preparing for content area exams,” she said. “The new and newly renewed NBCTs are to be applauded for meeting the high standards of the National Board. This incredible cohort of teachers work tirelessly, day in, and day out, to amplify the brilliance of their students. We are honored that these NBCTs have followed in the footsteps of our late President Karen GJ Lewis, NBCT.”