St. Clair county teachers are receiving top honors as more than a baker’s dozen have received their national board certification.

A process that takes anywhere from one to three years to complete is worth the stress and sacrifice according to Springville educator Lara McClendon.

Becoming national board certified in 2007, McClendon started the St. Clair County National Board Certified Teaching Network.

“When I started this program we had four or five board certified teachers in the county, now we have 18. It’s important to have this type of support system in place,” McClendon said.

The National Board Certified website (www.nbpts.org) explains what it means to be national board certified.

“National Board Certification (NBC) is achieved upon successful completion of a voluntary assessment program designed to recognize effective and accomplished teachers who meet high standards based on what teachers should know and be able to do.”

NBT is available for pre-K to twelfth grade teachers nationwide.

“Nothing touches what National Board can do,” said McClendon.

Describing the process, McClendon explained that teachers submit three portfolios, the first of which examines classroom-based learning. Teachers submit 120-plus pages of documentation including photographs and videos.

“This outlines how these teachers are reaching their students,” McClendon said.

Providing teachers with the opportunity to “learn what it’s like to be really good” said McClendon, teachers are also evaluated on their professional development as well as their community interaction and other things they do outside of the classroom to better their communities.

The support program put in place by McClendon shows potential NBC candidates how to create an application, put a plan of action in place, along with introducing them to the entire application process.

Candidates are evaluated on a four-point scoring scale where a six question assessment is given.

“This is where teachers need to be clear, concise and convincing,” said McClendon.

To even begin the process McClendon says candidates must be good teachers and be strong people.

Needing support from other educators in the ever changing world of education, McClendon says this process shows collaborative ways teachers find the means to help their students.

“The real goal of all of this is that the students are learning,” McClendon said.

Working their way through what McClendon describes as the best and hardest professional development they’ve been through, McClendon is excited Kelley Peoples, the media specialist at Margaret Elementary School, is the county’s first NBC media specialist. There are 84 NBC media specialists in Alabama.

Approximately 40 percent of NBC candidates make it on their first try. For teachers throughout St. Clair County and its neighboring areas, McClendon wants them to know there are people to support fellow educators.

“I enjoy working with candidates. I love seeing when they get it. We have some really great teachers in St. Clair County. It’s really amazing to the changes in these teachers and the changes in this county.”

For more information on becoming a NBC candidate log onto www.nbpts.org or contact McClendon at Lara.McClendon@sccboe.org