National Board Certification

National Board Certification is the most respected professional certification available in education and provides numerous benefits to teachers, students and schools. It was designed to develop, retain and recognize accomplished teachers and to generate ongoing improvement in schools nationwide.

DIRECT IMPACT ON STUDENTS
There is a decade of research to support the impact that Board-certified teachers have on students. Students of Board-certified teachers learn more than their peers without Board-certified teachers. Studies have also found that the positive impact of having a Board-certified teacher is even greater for BiPOC and low-income students.

RELEVANT AND IMPACTFUL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Teachers who have gone through the Board certification process say that it is the most valuable and transformative professional development they have ever received. The opportunity to connect professional learning with classroom practice brings to life a teacher’s experience, helping them reflect on individual student learning needs.

CREATED BY TEACHERS FOR TEACHERS

• Because Board-certified teachers are recognized as experts, they are often sought out for leadership positions in their schools and districts.
• In significant numbers, NBCTs serve as team leaders, department chairs, and instructional coaches. Many NBCTs move on to serve as school and district administrators or within the state department of education.

FINANCIAL BENEFITS
National Board Certified Teachers are eligible to receive additional annual compensation from TEA's Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA). 

Any certified teacher may sign up for the program through the National Board Certification website directly. Read on to learn about financial and cohort support through Georgetown ISD. 

Certified teachers in Georgetown ISD who have at least three (3) full years of teaching experience are invited to apply for financial support by the GISD Education Foundation. Up to six (6) teachers will be selected annually through an application process to receive financial support of the National Board Certification (NBC) process. 

Factors in the district selection process include:

• Completion of an application
• Supervisor letter of support
• Essay submission
• Priority will be given to applicants who serve at Title I eligible campuses. 

Teacher will be invited annually to apply. The first cohort will launch in the 2025-2026 school year. 

Candidates will receive mentorship and funding for course component fees ($1,900). In addition to the NBCT Cohort, National Board Certified Teachers are eligible to receive additional annual compensation from TEA's Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA). 

The timeline to apply for financial support in a district cohort:

• Application opens at the start of each school year.
• Candidates are selected and notified during the fall semester
• The deadline to register for the first module is February. See the 2025-2026 timeline on the NBC website.

It varies and you get to choose.  One teacher in GISD completed the program in a year. Most teachers liken the program to getting a master's degree, in terms of rigor, and also time commitment, completing the four components in about. two years. 

Candidates selected for financial support will receive additional information following acceptance into the cohort on how to request funds, which each component being funded individually, up to four components. Selected candidates are only eligible for funding if employeed in Georgetown ISD.  Candidates who leave the district forfeit future funding. 

While candidates who leave the district forfeit future funding opportunities through GISD, teachers can continue the program from anywhere. 

NBC certification follows the teacher. 

No. Georgetown ISD and the Georgetown ISD Education Foundation are offering this program to encourage the professional development of our teachers and create opportunities for them to increase their compensation. As long as selected applications remain in the district, the components will be funded and there is no obligation to repay the funds. 

How fast you complete the program or if you complete the program is up to you. Only those who complete the program are eligible for teacher incentive allotment (TIA) stipends from the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

Eligible NBCTs with a Recognized designation will generate an annual allotment between $3-$9k for their district. The funding amount will vary by campus based on the socioeconomic status of the students and the campus’ rural status. 90% or more of the allotment funds generated must be spent on teacher compensation on the campus where the designated teacher works. See more details at the Teacher Incentive Allotment website.

In the spirit of the national board certification program,  founded by teacher for teachers, GISD aims to provide support for cohort candidates through district-led support and teacher mentorship. 

Additionally, cohort candidates should expect to serve as a mentor during or following the completion of the program. 

The district will select up to 6 candidates each year to receive financial support in the program. However, if you are not selected for a cohort, it doesn't mean you cannot enroll in the NBC program on your own. We encourage you to visit https://www.nbpts.org/ to learn more.

The district anticipates an annual application process to select new cohort candidates. If interested, look for the application window to apply next year (annually in the later summer/early fall).