3 teachers achieve prestigious National Board Certification

Three more Ector County ISD teachers now hold National Board certification, meaning over the past three years a total of 15 ECISD teachers achieved this prestigious designation. The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification is considered the “gold standard” of teacher certification and the application process is rigorous; National Board-Certified Teachers must demonstrate standards-based evidence of the positive effect they have on student learning.

The newest ECISD educators who achieved certification, their school and their certificate area are:

• Santhi Priya Bhattaram, OCTECHS – Math, Adolescence and Young Adulthood
• Claudia Ruiz Arvizu, West Elementary – English as a New Language, Early and Middle Childhood
• David Atkins, Odessa High School – Social Studies-History, Adolescence and Young Adulthood

Achieving the designation of National Board-Certified Teacher (NBCT), is a two-year process and allows the NBCTs to be eligible for an “Acknowledged” designation on their Texas teaching certificate. With the “Acknowledged” designation comes a Teacher Incentive Allotment of $3,000 to $9,000.

ECISD teachers have been fortunate to have had a grant providing for the cost of certification and support through the process. A multi-year, multi-million-dollar grant from the Permian Strategic Partnership provided over $3,000 dollars per candidate to pay for component submissions and support.

Created by teachers, for teachers, the National Board Standards represent a consensus among educators about what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do. Board certification is available in 25 certificate areas spanning 16 disciplines from Pre-K through 12th grade.