Five ECISD teachers earn prestigious teaching standards certification

Five Ector County ISD (ECISD) teachers recently attained National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification—the gold standard of teacher certification.

Teachers earning this certification not only show standards-based evidence of their positive impact on student learning, but also demonstrate deep student understanding, content knowledge, data use, assessments and teaching practice, according to the district. Additionally, they actively engage in learning communities and ongoing reflection and learning.

ECISD’s National Board Certified teachers, along with their certificate area and campus, include Niki Bradshaw, Exceptional Need Specialist (SPED), Buice Elementary; Dr. Robert Brescia, History/Social Studies, Permian High School; David Cupp, Exceptional Needs Specialist (GT), Advanced Academics; Christi Nickels, Generalist–Middle Childhood, Cavazos Elementary; and Shelly Wagner, English Lang. Arts-Adolescence to Young Adulthood, OCTECHS.

The National Board of Standards—created by and for teachers—represents a consensus regarding the best standards of accomplished teachers. Board certification is achievable in 25 certificate areas spanning 16 disciplines from Pre-K through 12th grade. Students taught by National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) illustrate better growth versus those taught by non-NBCTs, according to the district, which emphasized that it’s the most respected professional certification available in K-12 education.

Earning the NBCT designation takes two years and allows those earning it to be eligible for an “Acknowledged” designation on their Texas teaching certificate. The designation accompanies a Teacher Incentive Allotment of $3,000 to $9,000.

ECISD teachers accessed a grant provided by the Permian Strategic Partnership for the cost of certification and support through the process. The multi-year, multi-million dollar grant, provides more than $3,000 per candidate to pay for component submissions and support, according to the district.