Letters to the Editor...

National certification isn't elitist

Editor:
Dwayne Brecto of Grandview wrote to express his confusion over the WEA's support for the recently enacted National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) stipend. As a second-year NBPTS candidate, I applaud WEA's support of what I have come to realize as the "Gold Standard" for educators. Mr. Brecto alludes to the 1 to 2 percent of teachers in Washington who have attained national certification, as if they are an elite group. They are elite only in that they have committed themselves to proving that they are as good as we believe so many educators are. The process is grueling, strenuous and at times, frustrating.

However, National Boards force you into analytical, reflective practice which, at times, allows you to experience exhilaration, as you realize the power and the possibilities of excellence in your practice. When WEA advocates for bonuses for national board-certified educators, they are advocating for every educator and every student in the state! In regard to Mr. Brecto's concern for equity, any educator is eligible to add their name to the list of board-certified teachers, should they make the choice. This process truly levels the playing field -- all you need to do is sign up, and then, do the work. I assure you that if you choose to go through the process of becoming certified, your practice will never be the same again. I agree that designating any curriculum area as more valuable than another is not fair (i.e. stipends for math and science teachers were NOT supported by WEA) but since the stipend for NBPTS-certified teachers is an option for any educator, it most certainly is fair. Scholarship money from the state and businesses will defray candidacy costs significantly, and any personal funds expended will be recovered in the first year after becoming certified. Regarding Mr. Brecto's reluctance, as a veteran teacher, to go through the process, I began teaching in the early '70s, and now, look at me … as a member of TRS 1, I can retire in two years if I so desire. I have no problem recognizing the value of the certification process, as I intend to get better and better at what I do, no matter how many years of employment I have ahead of me. I invite Mr. Brecto, and any other educator, to join the growing number of committed professionals in pursuit of national board certification. -- Linda Holmes-Cook, Wenatchee EA

National certification concerns on mark

National board certification is an opportunity for every teacher

Editor:
This is in response to the letter from Dwayne Brecto entitled "National certification stipends don't reward all top teachers." Mr. Brecto states that the national board-certification process and stipend is not equitable to all teachers. I strongly argue that it is indeed equitable, as it has been an available opportunity for every certified teacher in the state and the country for over the last 10 years. The union has advocated for 100 percent of teachers to have this opportunity and, in Washington, work closely with the Washington Initiative to provide funding options and training for those who qualify. Between the state grant opportunities and professional growth grants provided by my district, I paid nothing but sweat, tears and time away from my family to gain my national board certificate. That said, it truly has been the most enriching professional growth in my 17 years of teaching and is just beginning to open up the leadership opportunities I have sought. For those of us who have 20-plus years to go before we retire, the national board certificate is an excellent way to expand ourselves professionally without leaving the classroom. While I agree that there are many top teachers who are not benefiting from the National Board process, I suggest that the stipend may give them incentive to do so and to fill our low-income schools with experienced teachers who have gone through this rigorous process. While Mr. Brecto’s decision not to pursue national board certification is unfortunate, it reflects a personal decision, not the fault of the union or those of us who chose to take on the national board challenge. I encourage all teachers who feel they are ready for this opportunity to take it on, not for the money (although that never hurts), but to inspire yourself and to affirm that you are indeed a top teacher. -- Cristina Charney, Olympia EA

NBCT Bonuses

Editor:
Since the mid-1980s, and the publication of "A Nation at Risk," there have been two approaches to education reform. One approach has been to hold students, teachers and schools accountable for high test scores and punish them for not meeting these goals. The premise is that if the stakes are high enough, teachers and students will respond with higher performance.

Another response to the push for education reform has been to describe exactly what accomplished teachers should be doing in their classrooms and schools. This description could then be articulated in the form of a set of standards that reflect the diversity of teaching situations. This is the approach taken by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, the organization responsible for maintaining and articulating the standards to which every teacher should aspire. In addition, the National Board certifies teachers who can show that they have met these standards. National board certification is available for virtually every teacher and is achieved by completing a four-part portfolio and a six-part written assessment.

The NEA has been a strong and consistent supporter of the National Board. The NEA agrees that holding up high professional standards and empowering its members to reach those standards is the best way to improve the teaching profession.

Achieving national board certification is time-consuming, expensive and arduous. It takes most candidates over three hundred hours, it costs over $2,500 and only half of all candidates certify. It is also a very rewarding learning experience. Candidates spend hours analyzing and reflecting on what they do as teachers.

For the past eight years, national board-certified teachers in Washington have been rewarded for their hard work and achievement with a $3,500 annual stipend. While generous, this has not been enough to entice a significant number of teachers to enter the certification process. Furthermore, many potential candidates have been scared off because the stipend hasn't been permanently written into the salary schedule; NBCTs and WEA lobbyists have been forced to push the Legislature every two years to re-authorize the stipend.

This year, the Legislature has finally seen the wisdom of permanently writing a $5,000 bonus into the salary schedule. This will result in a lot more teachers pursuing certification and a lot more students reaping the results of this enriching professional development. -- Tom White, Edmonds EA

Washington teachers' retirement system at whim of Legislature

Editor:
I wonder how many of our union dues dollars are going to the WEA lawsuit regarding gainsharing, and I wonder how hard the legislators of Washington state are laughing at us.
We are one of four states in the United States whose teachers allow their pension funds to be controlled by the state. Why aren't we using the hefty amount we are paying into union dues to establish a pension fund which has its own administrators and financial advisers and is protected from the lawyers in the Washington state Legislature? We are lining the pockets of lawyers on both sides. We are about to use our union dues to pay lawyers to get the lawyers of the United States legislature to give our pension gainsharing (money that our pension funds have earned) back to us. The money should be going into our retirement accounts and the retirement accounts of those who are already retired. It is being used to save the state of Washington billions of dollars, while our governor has just received a raise of $16,000 over two years. Hum …
I wonder where that money came from.

We are allowing wolves to guard the chicken house, and eat the eggs. It is imperative that Washington state teachers take their pension funds away from control of the Washington state Legislature, or we will retire with less while the state of Washington, and our leaders and lawmakers prosper. -- Sharon Lewis, Pasco EA

Write us

We encourage members of Washington's public school community to share their views. Signed letters from WEA members and staff will be printed on a space-available basis. Letters should deal with an issue of interest to WEA members; personal attacks will not be published.

To submit your letter, please send e-mail to lwoo@washingtonea.org and include "Letter to the editor" in the subject line, or send U.S. mail to Letters, WE-Washington Education, P.O. Box 9100, Federal Way, WA 98063-9100. Please include your name and your local education association's name, plus a daytime phone number for verification.

Letters should be limited to about 350 words; publishing decisions rest solely with the WEA and submissions may be edited for space. Letters and guest editorials reflect the personal opinions of individual members and do not necessarily reflect WEA's policies or goals.

Reach WEA Editor Linda Woo at lwoo@WashingtonEA.org, via postal mail at WEA, PO Box 9100, Federal Way, WA 98063-9100; phone 253-765-7027 (or toll-free outside Seattle-Tacoma: 800-622-3393 ext. 7027); or fax 253-946-7612. We welcome story ideas, letters to the editor and suggestions for improving WE-Washington Education, or WEA Online.