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App State named nation’s leader for certified teachers for 6th consecutive year

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National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) and Appalachian State University alumna Heather Wham ’12, far left, is pictured with students at App State’s Academy at Middle Fork in Walkertown, where she works as a third grade teacher. For the sixth consecutive year, App State leads the nation for the number of its alumni who are National Board Certified Teachers. Wham is one of 2,211 Reich College of Education graduates who hold the NBCT certification as of 2021. Photo submitted

“Our alumni value continuing their education and engaging in reflective practice to become stronger teachers and educational leaders. App State offers dedicated resources to support them in their pursuit of these endeavors.”

Dr. Melba Spooner, dean of App State’s Reich College of Education

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National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) logo. Image courtesy of NBPTS

By Rebekah Saylors
Posted Feb. 21, 2022 at 8:25 a.m.

BOONE, N.C. — For the sixth consecutive year, Appalachian State University leads the nation for the number of its alumni who are National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT).

“Our alumni value continuing their education and engaging in reflective practice to become stronger teachers and educational leaders. App State offers dedicated resources to support them in their pursuit of these endeavors.”

Dr. Melba Spooner, dean of App State’s Reich College of Education

The national certification is based on a rigorous performance-based assessment that typically takes from one to three years to complete and measures what accomplished teachers and counselors should know and be able to do.

The university topped the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards’ list of “Top 50 Alma Maters by Total Number of NBCTs” for 2021, with 2,211 alumni having earned the national credential to date.

Additionally, North Carolina continues to lead the nation in the number of teachers who have become NBCTs — since 1987, 23,418 educators have earned the certification. In 2021, 399 North Carolina teachers gained the endorsement.

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National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) logo. Image courtesy of NBPTS

Dr. Melba Spooner, dean of App State’s Reich College of Education (RCOE), said, “We are proud to continue to lead the nation’s public and private universities and colleges with the highest number of alumni with the National Board Certification credential.

“Our alumni value continuing their education and engaging in reflective practice to become stronger teachers and educational leaders,” Spooner continued. “App State offers dedicated resources to support them in their pursuit of these endeavors.”

Nationally, 2,073 teachers earned certification in the 2020–21 academic year, raising the total among all states to over 130,000. In addition, 5,304 teachers nationally achieved recertification, including 1,124 board-certified teachers in North Carolina.

North Carolina accounts for nearly one-fifth (23%) of all teachers nationally who are certified by the teaching standards organization. Nationally certified teachers also account for a larger percentage of the total teaching force in North Carolina than any other state, with more than one of every five having earned the credential.

NBCTApps supports certification-seeking alumni

RCOE’s Public School Partnership collaborated with the state’s Northwest Regional Education Service Alliance in 2020 to create NBCTApps (National Board Certified Teacher-Apps) — a joint professional development program to help North Carolina educators achieve their National Board Certification. The program provides monthly professional development and mentoring sessions for NBCT candidates.

“The process of working toward National Board Certification is such a rich, reflective journey,” said Public School Partnership Director Betsy Rosenbalm ’01 ’05 ’08, who earned the NBCT credential in 2006 and recertification in 2016. “Our NBCTApps program aims to lock arms with aspiring teachers who are seeking out this growth process and encourage them to take advantage of all of the support and wisdom that our certified App State alumni have to offer.”

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Appalachian State University alumna Candace Styers ’12, STEM specialist at Catawba County Schools’ Startown Elementary, far right, is taking part in App State’s NBCTApps (National Board Certified Teacher-Apps) program while pursuing the NBCT credential. Of her NBCTApps experience, Styers said, “Teaming up with this group of professionals and peers strengthened my practice as an educator and assisted me on my journey to achieve National Board Certification.” She is pictured with her students. Photo submitted

NBCTApps participant Allie Kaylor ’13, an exceptional children’s teacher at East Alexander Middle School, said the program “made all the difference” in helping her improve her classroom instruction and meet the requirements for NBCT certification.

Kaylor, who achieved NBCT certification in November 2021, said, “I am so appreciative for the opportunity to have access to such an amazing support group that is focused on helping teachers achieve their goals and improve their classroom instruction.”

App State was founded in 1899 as a teachers college and continues to have one of the largest teacher education programs in North Carolina. School systems in almost all of the state’s 100 counties employ at least one graduate of App State’s Reich College of Education.

Learn more about National Board Certification.

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NC leads nation for number of certified teachers

Nine North Carolina universities and colleges were named among the top 50 schools with the highest number of alumni with the national credential:

  • No. 1 — Appalachian State University (2,211 alumni).
  • No. 2 — East Carolina University (2,189 alumni).
  • No. 4 — University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1,507 alumni).
  • No. 6 — University of North Carolina at Greensboro (1,438 alumni).
  • No. 8 — University of North Carolina at Charlotte (1,299 alumni).
  • No. 14 — North Carolina State University (1,042 alumni).
  • No. 18 — Western Carolina University (948 alumni).
  • No. 19 — University of North Carolina at Wilmington (941 alumni).
  • No. 45 — Meredith College (484 alumni).
Collaborating for certification

To help North Carolina educators achieve their National Board Certification, App State’s Reich College of Education has created NBCTApps (National Board Certified Teacher-Apps) — a joint professional development program between RCOE’s Public School Partnership and the state’s Northwest Regional Education Service Alliance (NW RESA).

Through this program, National Board Certified App State alumni serve as mentors to NBCTApps participants, who are invited to attend monthly support group sessions in which the alumni provide instruction, support and resources for educators completing the National Board Certification process. A total of 138 alumni are available to assist teachers.

Learn more about the program and how to participate.

App State leads nation in certified teachers for 5th consecutive year
App State leads nation in certified teachers for 5th consecutive year
April 9, 2021

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards has ranked App State No. 1 in its “Top 50 Alma Maters by Total Number of NBCTs” list for the fifth consecutive year. App State leads the nation for the number of National Board Certified Teachers — 2,178.

Read the story

About the Reich College of Education

Appalachian State University offers one of the largest undergraduate teacher preparation programs in North Carolina, graduating about 500 teachers a year. The Reich College of Education enrolls more than 2,000 students in its bachelor’s, master’s, education specialist and doctoral degree programs, with offerings that span multiple fields — from teacher preparation, counseling, and therapy, to higher education, school and student affairs administration, library science, educational leadership and more. With over 10,000 alumni employed in North Carolina public schools, there is at least one Reich College graduate in every county in the state. Learn more at https://rcoe.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

“Our alumni value continuing their education and engaging in reflective practice to become stronger teachers and educational leaders. App State offers dedicated resources to support them in their pursuit of these endeavors.”

Dr. Melba Spooner, dean of App State’s Reich College of Education

NC leads nation for number of certified teachers

Nine North Carolina universities and colleges were named among the top 50 schools with the highest number of alumni with the national credential:

  • No. 1 — Appalachian State University (2,211 alumni).
  • No. 2 — East Carolina University (2,189 alumni).
  • No. 4 — University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1,507 alumni).
  • No. 6 — University of North Carolina at Greensboro (1,438 alumni).
  • No. 8 — University of North Carolina at Charlotte (1,299 alumni).
  • No. 14 — North Carolina State University (1,042 alumni).
  • No. 18 — Western Carolina University (948 alumni).
  • No. 19 — University of North Carolina at Wilmington (941 alumni).
  • No. 45 — Meredith College (484 alumni).
Collaborating for certification

To help North Carolina educators achieve their National Board Certification, App State’s Reich College of Education has created NBCTApps (National Board Certified Teacher-Apps) — a joint professional development program between RCOE’s Public School Partnership and the state’s Northwest Regional Education Service Alliance (NW RESA).

Through this program, National Board Certified App State alumni serve as mentors to NBCTApps participants, who are invited to attend monthly support group sessions in which the alumni provide instruction, support and resources for educators completing the National Board Certification process. A total of 138 alumni are available to assist teachers.

Learn more about the program and how to participate.

App State leads nation in certified teachers for 5th consecutive year
App State leads nation in certified teachers for 5th consecutive year
April 9, 2021

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards has ranked App State No. 1 in its “Top 50 Alma Maters by Total Number of NBCTs” list for the fifth consecutive year. App State leads the nation for the number of National Board Certified Teachers — 2,178.

Read the story

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Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian State University Podcasts
  • Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian

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Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian State University Podcasts
  • Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian
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