The Hawaii Department of Education (HIDOE) honored 87 teachers who earned or renewed their National Board of Professional Teaching Standards certification during a ceremony at the Hawaii State Capitol.
The ceremony recognized the teachers for meeting the highest standards of teaching. It was attended by Gov. Josh Green, Superintendent Keith Hayashi, Kamehameha Schools CEO Jack Wong, the department's 2023 Teacher of the Year Michael Ida, legislators and representatives from the Hawaii State Teachers' Association.
“National Board Certified Teachers elevate not only their own skills but help to improve their school and other schools across the state,” Hayashi said in a release from Green’s office. “The outstanding work of our individual teachers helps to guide our schools, programs and priorities, and we are extremely grateful to have these teachers leading our Hawaii public school system forward.”
According to the release, to earn or retain this certification, educators must be up to date with the latest strategies and best practices in education. The process can take from one-to-three years and includes submitting a comprehensive portfolio. The renewal process requires teachers to demonstrate professional growth, the release said.
Hawaii consistently ranks among the top states in the nation for the percentage of National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) and has one of the fastest-growing populations of NBCT educators. There are currently 383 active HIDOE teachers with this certification, per release.
“The decision to pursue National Board Certification is not taken lightly,” said Logan Okita, an NBCT at Nimitz Elementary and vice president of the Hawaii State Teachers Association. “Teachers, who already have so many responsibilities on a daily basis, choose to add to the work they are doing to benefit their profession and their students.”
Okita said national data show students with NBCT often achieve gains equivalent to 1.5 months of additional learning.