WEA National Board Jump Start Seminars

 

 

Why a "Jump Start"?

 

In a conversation with some seasoned NBCT candidate support group facilitators, the following question came up: "If you had the luxury of several days to work with National Board candidates before they started the certification process, what things do you think would be most helpful to them?"  We think you'll like their answer.  Jump Start seminars are designed to provide National Board candidates with important information about the certification process, time to examine portfolio and assessment center requirements, the opportunity to plan how to meet requirements, and time to draft and get feedback on ideas for the first portfolio entry – all in a supportive, constructive, and collegial environment.

 

Who should attend?

 

NBCTs whose renewal is pending within a year or two, and teachers who are committed to starting either the full candidacy or the Take One!® National Board process in the spring/summer/fall of 2011 should attend the Jump Start training appropriate to their needs.  Jump Start full candidacy or Take One!® participants should be registered candidates with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards before the start of the seminar they attend.  Priority access for open seminar seats will be given to those candidates who are officially registered with NBPTS.  We regret that we will likely only be able to accommodate those who have already completed the three-year teaching requirement.  We encourage those who will meet the three year requirement at the end of the school year to register for one of our summer events.  We also encourage to register for the one-day Renewal Jump Start.

 

What is National Board Jump Start?  (Four-day session for full National Board candidacy)

WEA's National Board Jump Start is a four-day seminar that provides early support to new National Board candidates who are ready to begin the full candidacy process.  This training  provides key information and organizational assistance to help candidates understand and be successful in the certification procedure ahead.  Jump Start is intended to complement yearlong candidate support provided by university and district programs and is led by a fun and dynamic team of National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs). Each year we offer two or three four-day seminars, with location options for both Eastern and Western Washington.  (There are separate Jump Start options for National Board Renewal and Take One!® candidates – see below.)

 

The four-day Jump Start tuition for WEA members and non-members for the 2010-2011 year will be announced when registration opens in late 2010.  The fee includes breakfast, lunch, coffee and snacks each day, all training materials, and up to 30 Clock Hours.  Three Seattle Pacific University graduate level credits will also be available in lieu of Clock Hours for an additional cost.  Part of the fee also provides an honorarium to each of the many NBCTs and trainers who contribute their time to make this event a quality experience for candidates.  All participants are responsible for their own travel, lodging, and substitute costs, if applicable.

 

A limited number of need-based scholarships are available to four-day Jump Start WEA member candidates for whom registration costs are prohibitive.  WEA strives to ensure equal access for all WEA members to attend.  To apply for scholarship assistance you will be asked to complete a brief Online Scholarship Application once registration for Jump Start is open.  (Note:  All scholarship candidates will still be expected to pay some portion of the registration fee.) 

 

Items to Note:

Jump Start participants should be registered candidates with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) before the start of the seminar they attend. Because this is a WEA-sponsored event, priority access into open seminar seats will be given to WEA members who are officially registered with NBPTS. 

 

¨     To pay your initial $65 National Board registration fee and obtain a National Board ID number please Contact NBPTS. 

¨     For information regarding the Washington State National Board conditional loan, please Contact OSPI. 

¨     General questions regarding Jump Start or the National Board process may be directed to Sheila Beaver or Jim Meadows.

 

 

What is National Board Take One! ® Jump Start?  (Two-day session for Take One!® Candidates)

 

WEA's Take One!® National Board Jump Start is a new, two-day seminar that provides early support to educators participating in the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards' Take One!® process.  Take One!® Jump Start was designed from WEA's highly-acclaimed 4-day Jump Start Seminar for full candidates.  Each Take One!® event is co-located with the full candidate Jump Start Seminars.  (Note: Take One!® Jump Start will take place on Days 3 and 4 of the full candidate events).  Take One!®  Jump Start is intended to complement yearlong candidate support provided by university and district programs and will be taught by dynamic and fun team of National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) Jump Start trainers.  Tuition for WEA members and non-members will be announced when registration opens in late 2010 and includes breakfast, lunch, coffee and snacks each day, all training materials, and up to 14 Clock Hours.  All participants are responsible for their own travel, lodging, and substitute costs, if applicable.

 

 

What is National Board Renewal Jump Start?  (One-day Session for Renewal NBCTs)

 

WEA's National Board Renewal Jump Start is a one-day training that provides key information to NBCTs who are engaged in the National Board Certification Renewal process.  Renewal Jump Start helps candidates consider their growth and experiences since becoming an NBCT and how they relate to the Renewal process.  Each Renewal event is co-located with the full candidate Jump Start Seminars.  (Note: Renewal Jump Start will take place on Day 3 of the full candidate events).  Tuition costs for Renewal seminars for WEA members and non-members will be announced when registration opens in late 2010, and includes breakfast, lunch, coffee and snacks for the day, all training materials, and up to 8 Clock Hours.  All participants are responsible for their own travel, lodging, and substitute costs, if applicable.

 

FAQs

 

Q.  How do I know which Jump Start to attend?

 

¨     If you are a new candidate to the National Board process who has registered for full candidacy (4 Entries and 6 Assessment Center exercises), choose the four-day National Board Jump Start seminar.

 

¨     If you are a new candidate to the National Board process who has registered for Take One!® (1 Entry only), choose the two-day National Board Take One!® Jump Start seminar.

 

¨     If you are already an NBCT whose 10-year renewal registration is due within the next year or two, choose the one-day National Board Renewal Jump Start seminar.

 

Q.  How do I find out when registration opens for next year’s Jump Start seminars?

 

¨     To ensure that you receive an invitation to register for a WEA  National Board Jump Start seminar, please go to www.washingtonea.org and select 'Learn, Grow, Improve' from the menu tabs.  Go to 'National Board certification' in the drop down menu, then select 'Jump Start seminars.'  There is a link in that informational web page that will allow you to provide your contact information to receive Jump Start updates and an invitation to register when registration opens in late 2010. 

 

Q.  How much are Clock Hours for the Jump Starts?

 

¨     Clock Hour costs are included in your registration fee.  If you are attending the four-day full candidate Jump Start you may also purchase three Seattle Pacific University credits for an additional cost in lieu of Clock Hours.

 Q.  Who do I contact with additional questions?

¨     Washington Education Association – this is the Washington State Teachers Union to whom you pay your monthly dues if you are a WEA member.  We bargain contracts for our members and provide additional services and trainings.  As part of our member services we offer several National Board trainings to our WEA members:  1) Jump Starts (full candidate, Take One!® and Renewal) to help you both at the beginning of your National Board process to understand the requirements and suggest appropriate approaches to the process, and in your 10-year renewal process, and 2) Home Stretch toward the end of the year to make sure you have not overlooked details and give you feedback on your National Board entries.  We occasionally offer financial assistance for our training fees, but this is not connected in any way with the OSPI National Board conditional loan.  We are located in Federal Way and you can learn more about us at  www.washingtonea.org or by calling 253-765-7075.

¨     National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) – this is the national organization with whom you register and to whom you pay your National Board fees to begin the process to obtain National Board certification.  They are located in Washington, DC and your National Board ID number comes from them.  This is the entity to whom you pay your initial $65.00 fee to begin the registration process.  They also offer a “Take One®” process where candidates begin their process by completing only one of the ten full candidacy requirements (4 Entry Portfolios and 6 Assessment Center exercises).  You can learn more about full candidacy and Take One!® at:  www.nbpts.org  or by calling 1-800-22-TEACH. 

 

¨     Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) – this is the Washington state office that offers and assigns scholarships to Washington State teachers who apply for the state Conditional Loan to pay their National Board registration fees. OSPI requires that those who are awarded loans connect with a local Cohort Group to help guide them throughout the year-long process toward National Board certification.  They are located in Olympia and you can learn more about the state role in National Board certification at  www.k12.wa.us or by calling 360-725-6119.