Nurturing Teacher Leadership
National Board Certification
Nurturing Teacher Leadership (NTL), established in 1997, is the Chicago Teachers Union/Chicago Public Schools 2 year program of FREE professional development and candidate support that prepares Chicago Public School teachers, counselors, and librarians for National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification, the highest credential a teacher or counselor can earn.
Nurturing Teacher Leadership has a success rate of more than 93%, significantly higher than the
Illinois state and national average of 71%.
CONGRATS
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.”
At last month’s CPS Board of Education meeting, CTU President Stacy Davis Gates applauded the new and renewed NBCTs and championed the CTU’s Nurturing Teacher Leadership program. The program, which shepherds candidates through the NBCT process, boasts a success rate of 93% compared to the national rate of 71%.
“These people are role models,” Davis Gates said. “It’s proven that students of NBCTs have higher levels of achievement, higher rates of attendance, better engagement in their work and stronger relationships in their school communities.”
Davis Gates also noted that 38% of NBCTs are people of color, a strong rate. “But I think we can do better. We think the NBCT space needs to have more people of color represented in its ranks,” she said. “We know that these educators choose to teach in the school communities that have been disinvested in for years and that need the most.”
See the full list of new and renewed NBCTS and read reflections by some of them on their NBCT journey.
Congratulations to our new and newly renewed National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) for meeting the highest standards of our profession.
These 36 new NBCTs received their advanced certification this past December from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards after a rigorous 2-year performance-based, peer review process, demonstrating their proven impact on teacher quality and student learning. An additional 80 NBCTs maintained their National Board credential over a 1-year renewal process. We are proud to announce that Chicago Public Schools boasts the 3rd highest number of NBCTs of any district in the country.
CTU President Stacy Davis Gates acknowledges the tremendous achievement of the recent teachers, counselors, and librarians who earned and/or maintained their National Board Certification. “Students and families across our city benefit when highly qualified educators are at the front of the classroom. That’s why we are so proud of the educators who have earned or renewed their National Board Certification this year. With over 2,490 National Board Certified Teachers in classrooms throughout the city—38 percent of whom are NBCTs of color—our young learners can unlock their potential and pursue their dreams,” said President Davis Gates. “As we work toward establishing a fair contract to ensure our students experience a high-quality school day, we look forward to collaborating with CPS to maintain a robust and expanded National Board partnership. Professional development is essential in providing Chicago’s families with the schools they deserve.”
Our new and newly renewed NBCTS, who have met this most accomplished mark of achievement receive an annual pensionable stipend and may attain further financial benefits as they move up the pay scale. For more information on becoming National Board Certified please visit www.ctuf.org/NTL.
Congratulations to our new NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHERS:
Allison Augustine, English Language Arts – Early Adolescence
Ayrin Bell, Exceptional Needs Specialist – Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
Juliana Boccumini, English Language Arts – Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Alyson Boner Hernandez, Exceptional Needs Specialist – Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
Nicole Cannon, School Counseling – Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
Amy Dobner, Social Studies/History – Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Gabriel Dominguez, Art – Adolescence through Young Adulthood
Jean Fitzgerald, Art – Adolescence through Young Adulthood
Richard Flack, World Languages – Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
Joseph Gondolfi, English Language Arts – Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Matthias Jamison-Koenig, Science – Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Ryan Johns, Mathematics – Early Adolescence
Erin Kelley, Science – Early Adolescence
Isabelle Kozlov, Generalist – Early Childhood
Olga Kreatsolouas Psyhogios, English Language Arts – Early Adolescence
Lance Larsen, Art – Adolescence through Young Adulthood
Sophia Logothetis, English Language Arts – Early Adolescence
Adriana Lopez, Mathematics – Early Adolescence
Haydee Lopez, Art – Adolescence through Young Adulthood
Brian McMahon, Exceptional Needs Specialist – Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
Anita Martinez, Generalist – Early Childhood
Julie Merrell, Exceptional Needs Specialist – Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
Jane Mizzi, Social Studies/History – Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Robin Morgan, Science – Early Adolescence
Carole Namowicz, Science – Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Kelsey Nelson, Generalist – Early Childhood
Rosemary Pannell, Literacy – Reading, Language Arts – Early and Middle Childhood
Madalynn Peterek, Science – Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Elisabeth Race, Social Studies/History – Early Adolescence
Raquel Rattray, English Language Arts – Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Kamila Safinski, Exceptional Needs Specialist – Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
Isaac Sporrong, Science – Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Zachary Sweet, Mathematics – Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Grant Tedaldi, Career and Technical Education – Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
Aleefah Thompson, Generalist – Early Childhood
Nicole Wimberly, Exceptional Needs Specialist – Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
And our Newly Renewed NBCTS:
Andrew Johnson, Social Studies-History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Melynda Kroeger, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
Colleen McDonough, Generalist/Early Childhood
Christine Swiderski, Generalist/Middle Childhood
Lindsay Hayden, Social Studies/History – Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Andrea Anders, English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Tristan Arnold, Music/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
Sara Baar-Ledford, Science/Early Adolescence
Lynn Bailey, Art/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
Heather Banu, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
Robert Bendik, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
Carmella Berthia, Music/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
Leigh Ann Bertucci, Generalist/Middle Childhood
John Boggs, English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Kristina Brady, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
NaTia Brownlee, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
Lucille Burmov, English Language Arts/Early Adolescence
Jaclyn Cassello, Adolescent and Young Adulthood English Language Arts
Alicia Carlisle, Generalist/Early Childhood
Loreal Carrethers, Generalist/Early Childhood
Tiffany Childress-Price, Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Leo Congenie, Physical Education/Early and Middle Childhood
Nicole Cordero, English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Anna Cruz, Literacy:Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood
Nada Cuvalo, English Language Arts/Early Adolescence
Miranda DeYoung, Mathematics/Early Adolescence
Debra Dossing, Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Elizabeth Drake, Art/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
Cheryl Dudeck, Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Elizabeth Dyrst, Generalist/Early Childhood
Kathryn Fahey, World Languages/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
Jenny Ford, Generalist/Early Childhood
Amy Fritsch, English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
David Golden, Social Studies-History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Alicia Gomez, Generalist/Early Childhood
Derek Gould, English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Megan Grochowiak, Mathematics/Early Adolescence
Timothy Gronholm, English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Yezenia Guzman, Generalist/Early Childhood
Jennifer Harris, Generalist/Early Childhood
Melissa High, Generalist/Middle Childhood
Catherine Irving, Social Studies-History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Brigid Jennings, English as a New Language/Early and Middle Childhood
Rivanna Jihan, Social Studies-History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Andrew Johnson, Social Studies-History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Patricia Keating, Generalist/Early Childhood
Melynda Kroeger, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
Naseeb Khatoon, Generalist/Early Childhood
Asma Khudeira, English as a New Language/Early and Middle Childhood
Matthew Lemoyne, English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Melina Lesus, English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Debra Liu, Social Studies-History/Early Adolescence
Lance Loiselle, Music/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
Andrea Malek, Music/Early and Middle Childhood
Michael McDevitt, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
Colleen McDonough, Generalist/Early Childhood
Laura McKnight, Social Studies-History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Patricia Meegan, Literacy:Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood
Alison Ortony, Mathematics/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Beth Pfeiffer, Social Studies-History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Marilyn Ray, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
Aaron Reed, Physical Education/Early and Middle Childhood
Jennifer Reisner, Literacy:Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood
Mirelle Rivera, Social Studies-History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Jennifer Ronan, Generalist/Early Childhood
Jennifer Rucker, School Counseling/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
Thomas Shriner, English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Katherine Simon, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
Rashid Smith, Mathematics/Early Adolescence
Paula Sontag, Generalist/Middle Childhood
Sara Spachman, English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Hemang Srikishan, Mathematics/Early Adolescence
Leah Stephens, Music/Early and Middle Childhood
Anthony Suarez, Social Studies-History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Catherine Sweeney, Generalist/Early Childhood
Christine Swiderski, Generalist/Middle Childhood
Chad Thomas, English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Cynthia Thompson, Generalist/Middle Childhood
Joseph Tierhold, Mathematics/Early Adolescence
Rachel Urquhart, World Languages/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
Maria Julia Vazquez, Generalist/Middle Childhood
Samantha Villa, Generalist/Early Childhood
Heather Walters, Art/Early and Middle Childhood
Jeff Whitcomb, Mathematics/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
NTL Resources
Did you know that:
- Our contract provides a $2387 annual pensionable STIPEND for all National Board Certified Teachers, librarians, and counselors (going up 27% to 29% by the end of the contract).
- Our 2-year National Board Certification support program (Nurturing Teacher Leadership) is FREE to CTU members.
- You can earn a Master’s Degree and/or graduate credit while going through the NBC process.
- You can move to Lane 5 on the CPS pay scale during the program.
- You earn an ISBE National Board Certification Endorsement on your Professional Educator License – and all the PD Hours you need for your entire re-licensure cycle. And every cycle thereafter National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) only have to complete half the required ISBE PD hours.
- CNA research indicates that students of NBCTs gain 1 to 2 months of additional learning compared to their peers in other classrooms. The positive impact of having an NBCT is even greater for students of color and low-income students.
- Paid teacher leadership roles increase after attaining National Board Certification.
- Research from the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research shows that CPS NBCTs score higher on their REACH ratings than non NBCTs.
- CTU manages all National Board Certification programming for CPS.
- Almost 3000 CPS teachers, counselors, and librarians have achieved National Board Certification – earning us the status of being the district with the 3rd largest number of NBCTs in the nation.
- YOUR STUDENTS ARE THE BENEFICIARIES OF YOUR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING!
