Why National Board Professional Learning?
When a school is led by a National Board-Certified Teacher, there is a unique opportunity to harness the power of the National Board resources and Body of Knowledge in the school systems and the culture of the school. Such is the case at Byck Elementary in Jefferson County, where Dr. Carla Kolodey, former NBCT, is seeking to support and elevate the practice of all her teachers, wherever they are along the career continuum. NBPL is the perfect opportunity to inspire and empower teachers to use best practice and deep, meaningful reflections routinely in order to raise standards for all teachers and improve learning for all students.
Our Focus: Core Prop 4
In using the leadership mapping tool and asset inventory showed that teachers brought different strengths and displayed different areas of growth. The leadership team (principal, AP, counselor, coaches) therefore determined that Core Prop 4 would best center all of our work on reflection and improvement, no matter what each individual PLC or teacher might need to focus on improving. Each teacher then chose an individual focus within the 5 Core Props beyond the school focus to "think systematically about practice and learn from experience."
Core Prop 4 was the lens through which we engaged in five strategies for improvement: 1. using National Board resources in professional learning experiences; 2. engaging in routine cognitive coaching with all teachers throughout the year; 3. implementing DuFour PLCs with fidelity; 4. new teacher support grounded in National Board resources; and 5. supporting a school-based cohort for National Board certification.
Core Prop 4 was the lens through which we engaged in five strategies for improvement: 1. using National Board resources in professional learning experiences; 2. engaging in routine cognitive coaching with all teachers throughout the year; 3. implementing DuFour PLCs with fidelity; 4. new teacher support grounded in National Board resources; and 5. supporting a school-based cohort for National Board certification.
Our Journey
July 2018
Byck signs on to become an NBPL Pilot School in the second year of tenure as principal for Dr. Carla Kolodey, NBCT. Dr. Kolodey continues to build culture and systems at Byck that will foster and support the vulnerability necessary to engage in true National Board Professional Learning.
Year 1
While the entire faculty read the What Teachers Should Know and Be Able To Do book and engaged with the 5 Core Props and Architecture of Accomplished Teaching, Byck teacher leaders learned about the National Board certification process, and joined a school-based National Board Certification Cohort as candidates. By the spring of 2019, one teacher had submitted all four components and three others had begun the certification process.
Year 2
In the 2019-20 school year, Dr. Kolodey created a resource teacher position to specifically focus on National Board professional learning and staff development.
In the 2019-20 school year, Dr. Kolodey created a resource teacher position to specifically focus on National Board professional learning and staff development.