The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) recognized 134 West Virginia educators Wednesday for completing or renewing their National Board Certification (NBC) at the West Virginia Culture Center.
The NBC is a voluntary, advanced teaching credential received by completing an intense and rigorous process that can take three years to complete and is recognized across the country as an achievement beyond the necessary state licensure.
Forty-six teachers earned their first National Board Certification, and 88 teachers across West Virginia maintained their certification in the class of 2023.
“National Board Certified Teachers exemplify the ideas of continuous learning and development in the profession. Their dedication to education and their students provides credence to academic achievement,” said state Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt. “Our NBCTs are committed to excellence and cultivating a foundation for a successful future.”
Amidst a continued national struggle to hire and maintain certified educators, West Virginia has a total of 1,218 Nationally Board Certified Teachers and ranks 14th in the country for the percentage of NBCTs.
According to WVDE’s own reporting, close to 1500 educators were teaching with only provisional credentials during the 2022-2023 school year.