For the sixth consecutive year, Appalachian State University leads the nation for the number of its alumni who are National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT).
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 National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) — since 1987, 23,418 educators have earned the certification. In 2021, 399 North Carolina teachers gained the endorsement.
“Our alumni value continuing their education and engaging in reflective practice to become stronger teachers and educational leaders. We are happy to support them in their pursuit of these endeavors.” -- Dean Melba Spooner
Dr. Melba Spooner, dean of Appalachian’s Reich College of Education (RCOE), is “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,” continued Spooner. “We are happy to support them in their pursuit of these endeavors.”
The 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 towards National Board Certification is such a rich, reflective journey,” noted Dr. Betsy Rosenbalm ’01 ’05 ’08, Director of the RCOE Public School Partnership, and NBCT '06, '16. “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!"
After Allie Kaylor ’13, an exceptional children’s teacher at East Alexander Middle School, did not meet the certification requirements in 2020, she reached out to her alma mater for help in the planning and writing process.
“[NBCTApps] made all the difference in helping me to improve my instruction and meet that final threshold for certification,” said Kaylor. “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.”
"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,” said Candace Styers ’12, STEM Specialist at Startown Elementary and pictured with her students. Photo submitted.
Nationally, 2,073 teachers earned certification in 2020-2021, 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 percent) 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.
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).
Appalachian 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 100 counties of the state employ at least one graduate of Appalachian’s Reich College of Education.
Candace Styers with students
