AIKEN -- For the past three years, eighth-grade science teacher Helen Campbell has been videotaping in the classroom and then watching to see how well she's teaching.
After tweaking her portfolio, writing about how she has improved her teaching skills and reflecting on how her pupils learn, she has become one of six National Board Certified Teachers in Aiken County.
"I feel like I'm a better teacher because a lot of times we get into a routine or a rut with teaching," Ms. Campbell said. "I had to reflect on how children were learning from activities we were doing."
The number of board-certified teachers in South Carolina is the highest ever, but some critics are questioning the value of the program as test scores in the Palmetto State continue to lag behind those of the rest of the nation.
South Carolina ranks third in the nation for the number of board-certified teachers. The state added 637 this year, bringing the total to 3,866 statewide. Only Florida and North Carolina have more teachers that have undergone the one- to three-year process required for the certification.
However, South Carolina's scores on the ACT ranked 49th in the nation, and SAT scores dropped to 50th this year.
J. E. Stone, an educational psychology professor from East Tennessee State University, studied a group of board-certified teachers for several years and found that their pupils' test scores did not differ much from the scores of pupils taught by those who weren't board certified.
"The National Board certification is a very weak predictor of teacher effectiveness," Dr. Stone said.
"It's an extensive evaluation process," he said. "Why go to all of that trouble and expense when it is possible to look at how well teachers are performing without doing all of that?"
Dr. Stone said states should study pupil test scores from year to year and teacher to teacher to monitor progress.
Then, he said , raises should be given to teachers whose pupils show improvement, rather than making teachers go through the board certification process.
But Elizabeth Gresette, the executive director of the Palmetto State Teachers Association, disagrees. She said teachers can only do so much to teach students who get little to no help on schoolwork from parents and might not arrive at school on time, often because of parents.
Dr. Gressette said the certification progress is a "good, healthy, grueling process for teachers."
The candidates for certification have to reflect on how they teach and examine their understanding of subject material and their preparation techniques. They must also prepare a portfolio using videotapes of teaching, lesson plans, samples of pupils' work and essays that reflect on what the teacher has learned.
"There's no one best way to reward teachers. But this is a huge opportunity for teachers in South Carolina to stay in the classroom and earn more money," Dr. Gressette said. "Teachers who have been through the process have said this is some of the best professional development they have ever had."
Teachers who are board certified receive an extra $7,500 each year they teach , for up to 10 years. The state also reimburses teachers for the $2,300 application fee if they win certification.
State Rep. Harry Cato, R-Travelers Rest, said he had some concerns about the state having to foot the bill for the program since it began in 1999 , but now sees its benefits.
"I think it's working," Mr. Cato said. "I don't think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread, but I do believe that teachers who go the extra mile should be paid more."
Reach Karen Ethridge at (803) 648-1395, ext. 109 or karen.ethridge@augustachronicle.com
Getting certified
- National Board Certification measures a teacher’s practice against nationwide standards by looking at teaching portfolios, student work samples, videotapes and candidates’ analysis of how they are teaching in the classroom.
- Teachers must complete a series of written assignments that explore the depth of their knowledge on subjects they teach and their understanding of how to teach students. The teachers are graded on how knowledgeable they are about the subjects they are teaching and how effectively they are teaching students from different racial and financial backgrounds.
- National Board Certification is voluntary and open to all people who have a teaching degree and three years of experience teaching in a classroom.
- Certification is valid for 10 years.
Source: National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
Board certified
The number of new National Board Certified Teachers in 2004 in South Carolina and Georgia schools:
South Carolina - 637
Aiken County School District - 6
Allendale County School District - 1
Edgefield County School District - 2
Georgia - 448
Columbia County - 14
Richmond County - 4
Source: The South Carolina Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention & Advancement; National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
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