174 HCPSS Educators Attain National Board Certification

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The Howard County Public School System recently recognized the 174 teachers who achieved National Board Certification. Of that total, 164 were first-time achievers and 10 successfully renewed their certification.

HCPSS now has a total of 457 national board-certified teachers, which is the highest-level credential in the educational profession. To qualify for this certification, a teacher must achieve a high score on a content knowledge assessment and three formal portfolio entries that include videos and written analyses of one’s instruction and response to the needs of their school community.

“I am incredibly proud of our new nationally board-certified teachers, as well as those who have renewed their certification,” said HCPSS Superintendent William J. Barnes. “Becoming Nationally Board Certified is a significant professional accomplishment and one that directly benefits the children and communities we serve.”

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards ranks HCPSS among the top three districts in Maryland for historical number of NBCTs and the total number of current NBC candidates. For the second consecutive year, NBPTS also lists HCPSS 5th among the top 25 districts nationwide for its total number of new NBCTs.