A Journey Worth Taking

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I began my National Board journey 15 years ago. Looking back, it truly has been a journey—one that

I cannot imagine not having as part of my professional career.

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When I first learned about becoming board certified for teaching, I was intrigued. At the time, I had

already earned several degrees and certifications—Associate’s, Bachelor’s, and a Master’s,—and I was

dual certified in Early Childhood Education and Special Education. Pursuing National Board Certification

was not required for my position. In fact, it wasn’t necessary at all. Yet something about it called to me.

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 I realized that what drew me in was the opportunity to know that my teaching practice was operating

at the highest level possible—for both my students and for myself as a professional. National Board                                Kimberly Smith, NBCT

Certification represented a chance to reflect deeply on my work and ensure that I was providing the best             Director West Genesee Teacher Center

instruction and support I could.

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Then, I happened to read in a district newsletter that a colleague had recently become a National Board Certified Teacher. That moment became my first real step into the process. I reached out to her, and the support and guidance she offered were invaluable. Having someone who had already walked the path made the journey possible.

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Two years later, I became a proud National Board Certified Teacher.

 

What I expected from the process was a challenge—and it certainly was challenging. What I did not expect was just how powerful the experience would be as professional learning. The two years I spent working through the National Board process remain the best professional learning experience I have ever had. It centered on my own classroom, my own students, and my own teaching practice. Through the process, I deepened my use of assessments, strengthened my ability to differentiate instruction, analyzed student data with greater purpose, and collaborated more intentionally with colleagues.

 

National Board Certification didn’t simply validate my practice—it transformed how I approached teaching and learning.

 

Becoming an NBCT also opened doors I had never anticipated. Not long after earning certification, I was asked to support other teachers beginning their own National Board journeys. One of the most powerful aspects of this work is the way NBCTs support one another. There is a strong culture of “paying it forward,” where teachers who have benefited from the process then guide and encourage the next group of candidates, strengthening not only individual practice but the profession as a whole.

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I later became a trained Professional Learning Facilitator (PLF) and began working with teachers across New York State as they pursued certification. Today, I am the Director of the West Genesee Syracuse University Teacher Center where our union, Teaching Center, and district have created a truly supportive environment for candidates. Our Teaching Center supports both a PLF and Candidate Support Providers (CSPs), who offer individualized mentoring to candidates. Together we host monthly cohort work sessions, provide Q&A opportunities with NBCTs and PLFs, and hold an annual Writing Institute to support candidates during the most intensive phases of the process.

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As I supported candidates through their journeys, I expected to guide their professional growth. What I did not expect was how much I would learn from them in return. As their skills deepened and their knowledge expanded, so did mine. Each candidate brings new insights, new questions, and new perspectives that continue to strengthen my own practice.

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When teachers in our district earn National Board Certification, their accomplishment is celebrated. Our Teaching Center hosts a reception, and our Board of Education recognizes them at a public meeting attended by faculty, administrators, and family members. These celebrations reflect how deeply our community values the commitment and expertise that National Board Certification represents.  Being an NBCT is becoming part of a celebrated culture for us!

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One of our newest NBCTs recently described the experience as “a kinship.” Others have said we are “kindred spirits.” It can be difficult to fully explain, but those words come close. The bonds formed during the National Board process often last well beyond the cohort years.

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The colleague who mentored me at the very beginning of my journey remains someone I am deeply connected to today. We both continue to support National Board work and the educators pursuing it. In the same way, the relationships I have formed with candidates and NBCTs in our cohorts continue long after their certification is complete. I know that any candidate who has a question can reach out to any of our NBCTs and find support.

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That is the heart of this journey.

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Yes, the process is rigorous. Yes, it is challenging. But it is also deeply rewarding. And what truly sustains candidates through the work is the community that forms around it—the encouragement, the shared reflection, and the collective commitment to becoming better for our students.

In the end, it is the support we give each other along the way that makes the difference.

So if you are considering National Board Certification, my advice is simple:

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Ask an NBCT.
 

Read the West Genesee CSD Newsletter honoring new NBCTs.