(posted on December 10, 2008)

Sixty Horry County Schools’ teachers are among 755 South Carolina teachers that have joined the ranks of those achieving National Board Certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.  Since 1994 when the initiative began, 269 HCS teachers have achieved this distinction. The 2008 results bring the number of state teachers receiving their profession’s highest credential to 6,499, third highest in nation. Three South Carolina school districts are among the nation’s leaders in the number of National Board Certified Teachers earning certification this year. Horry County ranked 18th nationally.

Since 1999, state legislators have supported National Board Certification as a tool to retain high-quality teachers in classrooms while increasing student achievement. South Carolina offers incentives to teachers who achieve National Board Certification, including a $7,500 annual salary supplement for every year that they teach after receiving certification, for the 10-year life of their certificates.  Locally, Horry HCS teachers receive an additional annual salary supplement of $4,000.

The National Board process defines the knowledge, skills and accomplishments that symbolize teaching excellence. It was created so that teachers, like professionals in other fields, can achieve distinction by demonstrating through a demanding performance assessment that they meet high and rigorous standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do.

Teachers seeking National Board Certification undertake a two-part process that takes from one to three years to complete. The process requires candidates to reflect on their classroom practices, their understanding of subject material and their preparation techniques. In addition to preparing a portfolio with videotapes of classroom teaching, lesson plans, student work samples and reflective essays, teachers must complete assessment center exercises based on content knowledge that proves they have mastered the subjects they teach and also know how to teach them.