Efforts Underway to Phase Out the NBCT Program

State of Oklahoma

House of Representatives

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 2, 2012

Rep. Ed Cannaday
State Capitol Building Rm. 539B
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105
Contact: Eric Russell
405-962-7819

Efforts Underway to Phase Out the NBCT Program

OKLAHOMA CITY (February 2, 2012) The Superintendent of Public Instruction and members of the State Board of Education, all of whom have been on the job from just a few months to a little over a year, revealed their agenda at a recent meeting to phase out funding for the National Board Certified Teacher Program. Today one state lawmaker expressed his disapproval and frustration over this decision.

“I am incredibly disappointed that those elected and appointed to serve in the best interests of education are making decisions, that in my opinion, seem to be anything but,” said Rep. Ed Cannaday, D-Porum. “They continue to say they want our teachers to be the best and brightest in the nation, but then they de-fund the teacher training program that is recognized as one of the best and most rigorous in the nation in terms of teacher quality and high standards. I’m sad to say that this new plan to phase out the NBCT program altogether is not so much a surprise, given the events that have led up to it.”

Rep. Cannaday referred to newly elected Supt. Barresi’s budget request submitted to the Legislature back in January of 2011, in which no money was requested for the National Board Certified Teacher fund. After following through on those intentions and failing to fund the program for FY ’12, Supt. Barresi said in an interview with the Oklahoma Gazette that she would not be requesting money for this program, and stated the following: “We do not anticipate a supplemental appropriation request; I want to make that very, very clear.”

The National Board Certified Teacher program is a rigorous certification often compared to a Master’s degree in terms of difficulty. It is a three year process in which teachers must meet high standards through intensive study, expert evaluation, self-assessment and peer review.

Many teachers in Oklahoma have relied upon the incentive of a promised $5,000 raise in pay for obtaining the certification.

"The legislature made a promise to teachers, that if they work hard and achieve this certification, and that if they use this training by teaching at high poverty schools and in low achieving schools, that they would be rewarded with additional pay – and then they failed to keep this promise by allowing Supt. Barresi to single-handedly slash this program,” said Rep. Cannaday. “There are no efforts underway that I am aware of to do right by these nearly 3,000 teachers who essentially received a 12% pay decrease this past year. I have heard that we will attempt to get funding back for the coming year, but how will this play out in light of Senate Bill 1879?”

Senate Bill 1879, authored by Senator John Ford, R-Bartlesville, seeks to reduce the number of applicants to the NBCT program each year and restrict eligibility for the annual bonus by stipulating that it can only be claimed for ten years and by those who are teaching in the classroom full-time.

However, the bill goes on to state that if a teacher who qualifies for a bonus is not provided an annual bonus by the State Board of Education, the teacher shall receive an annual bonus payment after the teacher's current National Board certification is expired (a 10-year period), for a total of ten annual payments.

It also states that all funds remaining in the Oklahoma Teacher Performance Pay Revolving Fund at the end of the fiscal year will be used by the State Department of Education to implement a performance pay system in accordance with the teacher and leader effectiveness evaluation system.

At the State Board of Education Retreat held on January 15th and 16th, Supt. Barresi stated that she and the Department of Education supports Sen. Ford’s bill to phase out the NBCT program.

“The NBCT program is a well-respected and objective measure of a teacher’s success,” Rep. Cannaday added. “Supt. Barresi and Sen. Ford are laying the groundwork for this program’s elimination in favor of an as-of-yet undetermined evaluation system – and I highly doubt they’re looking at waiting ten years for this to occur.”

Last year, new measures were signed into law mandating the adoption of a new statewide system of evaluation to be known as the “Oklahoma Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Evaluation System.” The law required the Oklahoma State Board of Education to meet on December 15th, 2011 to adopt the new evaluation system.

The Commission recommended that the Board use Tulsa’s teacher evaluation system and McREL’s leader evaluation system. The Board instead ignored this recommendation and gave the school districts the option to choose among three evaluation systems for one “pilot year.”

“We have multiple evaluation systems when the law stipulated that the Board adopt just one,” Rep. Cannaday said. “The Board is flouting the law with Supt. Barresi at its helm, and I have grave concerns about the future of our education system and our ability to attract and retain great teachers.”

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Posted on Thu, February 2, 2012 by ODP Communications filed under

11 comments (Add your own)

1. Elise Robillard wrote:: I am a National Board Certified Teacher. The process of National Board certification was one of the most rigorous and rewarding learning experiences I have ever known. My teaching practice has improved as a result of all I learned and my students' learning has been very positively impacted as a result.

Sadly, I will be taking my skills and my knowledge elsewhere. I cannot continue to fight for a living wage in Oklahoma when there are many states where I can earn more than double what I earn in Oklahoma and where I will not have to live precariously wondering what punches will be thrown at teachers next.

So, I am sending out résumés and I feel certain that I will leave Oklahoma within the months to come.

I will not be alone in making this decision.
Thu, February 2, 2012 @ 9:25 PM
2. Rikki abrams wrote:: We need to vote Baresi out. She has spit un the face of teachers by her reckless actions. Why did we elect someone to run our schools who is not and never has been an educator?! What I really find hard to take is that the rest of our elected officials who represent us all, uncluding teachers, would allow her to act so irresponsibly. All she cared about was getting her twins through the system in a charter school where they wouldn't have to mix with the undesirables. she is shameless. I too was proudto achieve National Board status. It was much more difficult and rigorous than my Master's program. I have only realized 3 years of the alleged bonus.I have been a reacher for 34 years--now I know why the ranks of upcoming teachers is so sparse.somebody please reign Baresi in before she ruins the entire system. You don't offer a carrot for achieving something then yank it back after the fact. Very bad business. What goes around comes around so they say....
Thu, February 2, 2012 @ 10:51 PM
3. John Turner wrote:: Our state legislators have done their best over the years to destroy public education in Oklahoma now we have Janet Baresi who will definetely finish the job. We will soon see how JB and her Charter schools will function when all the students they don't want are on their doorstep instead of public education.
Fri, February 3, 2012 @ 9:37 AM
4. Richard E. Cooper wrote:: Will the Democrats nominate a viable candidate next time to run against Barresi, or will they send up another politician. Let's get a real educator to serve in that position next time.
Fri, February 3, 2012 @ 10:42 AM
5. Jim Snow wrote:: Other countries consistently outperform the United States in student achievement. One of the constants that can be seen in these high performing countries is the fact that teachers are given high respect. The profession of teaching is a high paid, high respect occupation. Children in these countries grow up with the desire to be a teacher because teachers are respected and well paid.

I have heard the adage "Those that can do. Those that can't teach". That about sums up the status of American teachers.

Would you chose a doctor to operate on you if she was low paid and not respected?
Fri, February 3, 2012 @ 3:27 PM
6. Simon Gallagher wrote:: I am a former National Board Certified teacher with 18years experience in Oklahoma classrooms. When the state superintendent failed to fund the state's commitment to National Board teachers this year, I left the classroom and took a job in the private sector. I miss the classroom but I am much happier in a position where I am respected and paid enough to support my family.
Fri, February 3, 2012 @ 8:09 PM
7. R.Dale Orcutt wrote:: RECALL!
Sat, February 4, 2012 @ 11:17 AM
8. Jinafer Brown wrote:: First of all I don't think this is a Democrat/Republican issue. There are many Republicans here in Tulsa who are not in agreement with Barresi's inability to fight for funding for "public" education. Since the question of taking over certain Tulsa schools has emerged her support has decreased even more. Rep. Sears of Bartlesville was one of the authors of the bill to create the stipend in the first place and from what I read is still in favor of that stipend if funds are available. It needs to come to everyone's attention that by not putting the NBCT funding in her budget, Janet Barresi is contradicting the decision of the state legislature as to the fact that the NBCT process is a process was developed "nationally" and has been tested and proven to increase learning and therefore worthy of merit.

I find Ford's proposal ridiculous. If that is the way the bill reads then save us the time and trouble and leave the law the way it is, it is not getting funding anyway.I certified in fall of 2007. I have received the full $5,000 only once. Each year since then it has been cut lower and lower due to funds, taxes, and employers costs. The only sensible way to make this a line item is to consider the NBCT process as a way of fulfilling the standards on our very near, yet unknown evaluation system.
Mon, February 6, 2012 @ 2:01 PM
9. Sharon wrote:: NBPTS was the greatest professional development I have received in my 25+ years in education. Not supporting the efforts of many diligent teachers makes a very strong statement about the priorities in OKlahoma and among it's leaders.
Quqlity teachers are desperately needed to push OK ahead in education. NBPTS teachers are some of the best educators and we can't afford to loose them. Yet, OK is loosing ground in education. Good teachers are relocating to surrounding states where they can suppport themselves with their passion.
Please reinstate!
Tue, February 7, 2012 @ 12:59 PM
10. Susan Collier wrote:: I hope all parents and teachers will remember the names of these individuals who are dismantling public education when it comes time to vote them out of office.
Thu, February 9, 2012 @ 7:26 AM
11. Orvelita wrote:: I wodenr, how many of the folks touting public ralease of VAM data would favor publication of similarly flawed data on their own job performance. I know that reporters argue they are not public employees, but the fact is, every time I buy a newspaper or magazine contribute to that journalist's salary. Am I not then entitled to know how effective' that journalist is, and how much value he or she contributes to the publishing enterprise? Similarly, Dr. Hanushek's university received public funding in various programs and departments. I don't know whether he has directly received publicly funded grants, but as an employee of the University (which has and does), shouldn't I get to see his VAM rating? Let's face it, this cuts both ways.As a teacher who has had students deliberately blow the tests (and admit it, even brag to their friends about it), I resent the co-dependent thinking that makes me responsible for someone else's choice to learn or not. I spend hours every day teaching my students with disabilities that they have choices to make, all of whic carry consequences whether good or bad. I do not make those choices for them, nor does anyone else. If an individual does not find value in education and learning, please teach me how to change that (and pray that I care enough to learn, lest you be rated ineffective ), or else accept that it is beyond my control.
Thu, March 1, 2012 @ 6:39 PM

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