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

February 10, 2004

Daley, business leaders, school officials salute master teachers
82 teachers earn National Board Certification; $286,000 in rewards

CHICAGO—Mayor Richard M. Daley joins leaders of The Chicago Public Education Fund (The Fund), Chicago Public Schools and Chicago’s Teachers Union at 6 p.m. tonight in honoring 82 Chicago Public School teachers certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) at the Fairmont Hotel at 200 N. Columbus Drive.

Widely regarded as the highest credential a teacher can earn, National Board Certification is a year-long process that requires more than 400 hours of work outside the classroom. Chicago Public Schools now have 233 NBC teachers, compared with just 7 in 1999.

"These teachers have aspired to be the very best in their profession and I applaud the extra work and effort that they have completed to help the young people of our city stay on a positive path to a successful future," said Mayor Daley.  "Aside from our investment in bricks and mortar and the new labs, new schools and new programs, the most important thing our school system needs is good leadership and good teachers."

Each newly certified teacher will receive $3,000 today from The Chicago Public Education Fund as part of its multimillion-dollar Give-Back Incentive. They will also receive $2,500 from the Chicago Board of Education and $3,000 a year for the next ten years from the Illinois State Board of Education.

The Chicago Public Education Fund worked with Daley, the Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union to map out a comprehensive strategy to boost the number of certified teachers, said Janet Knupp, The Fund’s president.

“Like in business, we know we must identify the most talented people we have, use them well, and compensate them accordingly,” she said.

The Fund, which raises venture capital for public education, has committed $2.2 million toward programs and incentives that encourage Chicago Public School teachers to seek National Board Certification.

The NBPTS certifies teachers who demonstrate their knowledge and skills through an extensive series of performance?]based assessments that include teaching portfolios, student work samples, videotapes and rigorous analyses their own classroom teaching and student learning.

Candidates also must complete a series of written exercises that probe the depth of their subject-matter knowledge, as well as their understanding of how to teach those subjects to their students. The unique process assesses not just teacher knowledge, but also the actual use of skills and professional judgment in the classroom.

As part of its Give-Back Incentive, The Fund also rewarded two schools where 4 or more teachers earned National Board Certification with $20,000 for continued professional development: Henry R. Clissold Elementary School, 2350 West 110th Place and Maria Saucedo Scholastic Academy, 2850 West 24th Boulevard.

Over 40 schools feature NBC teachers or candidates, and 481 new candidates are currently taking part in the year-long process, which concludes this summer.
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