For the ninth consecutive year, the Wake County Public School System has the most nationally certified teachers of any school district in the country, the system announced Thursday.
With 90 teachers recently earning certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, the district currently has 2,455 nationally certified teachers. The certification is considered to be the ‘gold standard’ in teaching.
“Achieving national certification is no easy task,” Superintendent Jim Merrill said in a statement. “It’s a true indicator of a teacher’s profound commitment to the very best for his or her students. We are quite proud of these dedicated professionals.”
The certification process, which can take up to three years, requires teachers to take on leadership roles, collaborate with peers and analyze their teaching practices and their impact on student learning. Certifications must be renewed every 10 years.
Once a North Carolina teacher is nationally certified, they’re eligible for a 12 percent increase from the state.