News Release
at The Chicago Public Education Fund
Susan Woodward, Director of Development & Communications
(312) 558-4516

March 23, 2006

Mayor, state supt., CPS chief and union president join corporate and civic leaders to honor NBCTs
92 CPS teachers achieve credential in 2005 - an overall increase of 20 percent from 2004 total

CHICAGO—More than 1,000 teachers, principals, and corporate and civic leaders gathered in an event hosted by The Chicago Public Education Fund yesterday to celebrate the 474 teachers in Chicago Public Schools who have achieved their profession's highest distinction - National Board Certification.

Mayor Richard M. Daley commended the 92 newly certified teachers who were in the audience to receive a $2,000 check rewarding their accomplishment from The Chicago Public Education Fund.

"National Board Certified Teachers have a huge impact on their students and are a tremendous asset to our schools," said Mayor Richard M. Daley. "You are among the best, and we thank you for making a difference in your classrooms every day. Together, we will continue to improve student achievement and reach our goal of becoming the best urban school system in the nation."

In addition to Daley, the evening reception, held at the Sheraton Hotel & Towers, featured remarks from Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan, Chicago Public Teachers Union President Marilyn Stewart, Illinois State Superintendent Randy Dunn, Nuveen Investments CEO Tim Schwertfeger, GTCR Golder Rauner Chairman Bruce Rauner, and The Chicago Public Education Fund's president, Janet Knupp.

"The children of Chicago need you - and more outstanding individuals like you," said Rauner, a director of The Fund who has personally contributed more than $1 million to increase the number of National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) in Chicago. "Our schools need teachers who show their great dedication to improving student performance."

"You have earned our profession's highest distinction," added Stewart. "On behalf of the union, I congratulate you. You have shown that your practice meets the highest standards in teaching."

Administered by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), National Board Certification is the highest credential in the teaching profession. "The Fund is proud to support these master teachers," said Schwertfeger, The Fund's chairman. "They have proven their ability to make an impact on their students, and it is crucial that both the city and the state continue to provide the support necessary to increase their ranks."

The Fund has allocated more than $6 million for National Board Certification, beginning in 2000 when it first developed consensus with Mayor Daley, CPS and CTU that NBC was a legitimate way to identify and compensate master teacher talent based on performance in the classroom. More than one-third of Chicago's public schools have at least one National Board Certified Teacher, and 48 benefit from teams of three or more. The Fund and the district maintain a shared goal of 1,200 CPS teachers who have earned NBC by 2008.

"Your results are impressive," Dunn said. "Together, you are improving the lives and learning of thousands of students in Chicago. At the state level, we are committed to improving teacher quality throughout Illinois, and we see National Board Certification as a key part of the strategy to achieve that."

Illinois has allocated $4.5 million per year for stipends and mentoring support to NBCTs, including a $3,000 annual stipend for NBCTs for the 10-year life of the certificate. With the rapidly growing number of NBCTs in Illinois, the state has been requested to increase its FY 2007 allocation to $9.5 million to sustain its commitment to quality teaching.

In addition to state and CPS support, The Chicago Public Education Fund provides CPS NBCTs with a one-time gift of $2,000. A venture philanthropy that invests dollars and ideas in leadership programs throughout Chicago Public Schools, The Fund has allocated more than $6 million commitment in support of National Board Certification.

"We know that the most important thing we can offer our students is a high-quality teacher in front of their classroom," said Knupp. "We are proud of this year's class of master teachers and we are committed to ensuring even more of them are positioned in the classrooms that need them the most."

"Proven teacher quality is one of our core strategies," Duncan added. "I want to commend not only this year's class of NBCTs, but the principals and area instruction officers who supported them. To achieve our goals, we have to work not just harder, but smarter, and there is no smarter way to work than National Board Certification."

All 50 states and more than 500 individual school districts across the country have implemented policies and regulations to recruit, reward and retain NBCTs. In 2005, nearly 7,300 teachers nationwide achieved National Board Certification, bringing the total nationwide to 47,500. Illinois ranks eighth among the states with 1,555 NBCTs.

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As a venture capital fund for public education, The Chicago Public Education Fund is an unprecedented catalyst for improving school leadership and student achievement system wide. Launched by a group of corporate and civic leaders, The Fund brings private sector dollars and expertise to high-impact programs aligned with Chicago Public Schools priorities. Find out more at www.cpef.org.

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