The Gold Standard of Teaching
National Board Certification is the most respected professional credential available in K-12 education. Designed by teachers, for teachers, it recognizes high-standard, accomplished practice through a rigorous, performance-based peer-review process.
Why Pursue Board Certification?
Achieving National Board Certification (NBCT) is a powerful way to distinguish yourself as a leader and refine your impact in the classroom.
✨ Professional Transformation:
Ranked by 96% of teachers as the most impactful professional development of their careers, the process fundamentally shifts how you plan, analyze, and reflect on your teaching.
📈 Proven Student Impact:
Research consistently shows that students of Board-certified teachers learn more than their peers, with the impact being even greater for high-need student populations.
💰Jordan District Financial Rewards:
To recognize this achievement, Jordan District provides an annual stipend of $2,400 for our NBCTs. Additional state-level salary supplements may also be available.
🍎 Career Leadership:
NBCTs are recognized experts sought out for leadership, coaching, and mentoring roles within our district. This provides a powerful pathway to lead and impact the profession from within your own school, allowing you to advance your career without ever leaving the classroom.
🤝 A Community of Excellence:
Becoming an NBCT connects you with a network of over 130,000 like-minded educators across the country who are dedicated to the highest standards of the profession.
🎁 Zero Out-of-Pocket Cost (Currently):
Through the Salary Supplement for National Board-Certified Teachers (SSNBCT) Pre-Payment Program, the cost of all four components is currently covered for eligible Utah educators. This allows you to pursue the highest credential in teaching without the financial burden of registration and component fees.
The Four Components
The certification process is performance-based and can be completed over one, two, or three years. It allows you to showcase your teaching in a real-world context:
| Component 1: Content Knowledge
A computer-based assessment of your subject-matter expertise. |
Component 2: Differentiation in Instruction
A portfolio of student work samples and personal reflection showing how you move every learner forward. |
| Component 3: Teaching Practice
A video of your classroom in action, demonstrating your engagement and learning environment. |
Component 4: Effective and Reflective Practitioner
Evidence of how you use data and collaboration to impact student learning. |
The Five Core Propositions
First published in 1989 and updated in 2016, What Teachers Should Know and Be Able to Do articulates the National Board’s Five Core Propositions for teaching. The Five Core Propositions — comparable to medicine’s Hippocratic Oath — set forth the profession’s vision for accomplished teaching.
❤️ Commitment to Students
Teachers are committed to students and their learning, treating them equitably and recognizing individual differences.
📚 Content Knowledge
Teachers know the subjects they teach and how to teach them, making complex topics accessible to all students.
📊 Managing & Monitoring
Teachers are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning through diverse instructional and assessment methods.
🔄 Systematic Thinking
Teachers think systematically about their practice, learning from experience and reflecting on their impact.
🤝 Learning Communities
Teachers are members of learning communities, collaborating with parents, colleagues, and the community to support student success.
Ready to Start Your Journey?
You don't have to climb the mountain alone. Jordan District provides a dedicated team of Professional Learning Facilitators (PLFs)—veteran NBCTs who provide one-on-one mentoring and cohort support.
Questions? We're here to help. Contact Amy Wood, JSD District Facilitator, at 801-567-8365 or amy.wood@jordandistrict.org .