Comments on: Should school administrators lose National Board pay? http://doctortam.edublogs.org/2007/09/18/should-school-administrators-lose-national-board-pay/ Another excellent Edublogs.org blog Wed, 28 Nov 2007 04:23:34 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: chicklit http://doctortam.edublogs.org/2007/09/18/should-school-administrators-lose-national-board-pay/comment-page-1/#comment-96 chicklit Wed, 28 Nov 2007 04:08:28 +0000 http://doctortam.edublogs.org/2007/09/18/should-school-administrators-lose-national-board-pay/#comment-96 I originally chose this issue to blog about because it hits close to home. I earned my National Board Certification in 2003, and when I become an AP, I will actually earn less money than when I was in the classroom. I had the opportunity a few years ago to serve on a Teaching Fellows Regional screening committe with a member of the legislature who had presented a bill that would allow administrators to keep their National Board pay. Unfortunately, the bill was not passed. There are many educators that feel strongly about this issue and think that National Board Certified teachers need to stay in the classroom, especially after the state of North Carolina had to pay the high application fee for them to apply for the process. One local school system is considering the idea of "assigning" National Board Certified teachers to high-needs schools. Their rationale is that teachers are employed by the school system, not the individual school. Once again, I ask the question of why teachers who have undergone the rigorous process of achieving this certification have to face so many limitations? First these teachers must face limitations on their opportunities for advancement, and now they may be transferred to high-needs schools involuntarily. It seems to me that this would discourage teachers from seeking this certification, instead of encouraging it. I originally chose this issue to blog about because it hits close to home. I earned my National Board Certification in 2003, and when I become an AP, I will actually earn less money than when I was in the classroom. I had the opportunity a few years ago to serve on a Teaching Fellows Regional screening committe with a member of the legislature who had presented a bill that would allow administrators to keep their National Board pay. Unfortunately, the bill was not passed. There are many educators that feel strongly about this issue and think that National Board Certified teachers need to stay in the classroom, especially after the state of North Carolina had to pay the high application fee for them to apply for the process.
One local school system is considering the idea of “assigning” National Board Certified teachers to high-needs schools. Their rationale is that teachers are employed by the school system, not the individual school. Once again, I ask the question of why teachers who have undergone the rigorous process of achieving this certification have to face so many limitations? First these teachers must face limitations on their opportunities for advancement, and now they may be transferred to high-needs schools involuntarily. It seems to me that this would discourage teachers from seeking this certification, instead of encouraging it.

]]> By: pegcozbourne http://doctortam.edublogs.org/2007/09/18/should-school-administrators-lose-national-board-pay/comment-page-1/#comment-49 pegcozbourne Tue, 02 Oct 2007 19:27:31 +0000 http://doctortam.edublogs.org/2007/09/18/should-school-administrators-lose-national-board-pay/#comment-49 Excellent issue to think about. I know one situation where a teacher would earn more staying a teacher earning National Board pay than working as an administrator. She decided to give up her assistant principalship and make the move back to the classroom. I think NC pays the 12% differential with the intention of keeping a good teacher in the classroom. Although, it seems logical the best administrators would come from those who truly are accomplished teachers first. Why penalize National Board achievers by taking away the pay differential for making the move to leadership? Excellent issue to think about. I know one situation where a teacher would earn more staying a teacher earning National Board pay than working as an administrator. She decided to give up her assistant principalship and make the move back to the classroom. I think NC pays the 12% differential with the intention of keeping a good teacher in the classroom. Although, it seems logical the best administrators would come from those who truly are accomplished teachers first. Why penalize National Board achievers by taking away the pay differential for making the move to leadership?

]]> By: Dawn McKernan http://doctortam.edublogs.org/2007/09/18/should-school-administrators-lose-national-board-pay/comment-page-1/#comment-18 Dawn McKernan Sat, 29 Sep 2007 17:07:40 +0000 http://doctortam.edublogs.org/2007/09/18/should-school-administrators-lose-national-board-pay/#comment-18 This issue depends on the county one works in because I have two AP friends in two different counties. One keeps her NB pay as an admin. and the other does not. I think that the one that kept it negotiated to do so. It is worth asking about. If teachers are going to be asked to take on leadership positions, I would think that it would be unfair to reduce their pay. While I fully support opportunities for teachers to grow and develop professionally, I prefer the pay plan that my former distrit used. They paid up to 3000$ for teachers to take courses to grow professionally. I added several certifications this way. Our pay scale had bachelors +15 hours, +30 hours, +45 hours, Masters, Masters +15,+30 +45, etc. It really motivated teachers to take courses and allowed us to have teachers add on certification areas. With NB, there is no added certification. When I came to NC as an outsider (and through two semesters of administrative interning), I have noticed that a lot of the strongest teachers have NB--but some do not. Some of the weakest teachers have it, too...and of course, many weak ones do not. I guess that my point is that it is not a complete endorsement that the teacher that has it is a powerful educator. To me, my former system rewarded professional growth and seemed like a more level playing field. Just my thoughts as a newcomer to NC. This issue depends on the county one works in because I have two AP friends in two different counties. One keeps her NB pay as an admin. and the other does not. I think that the one that kept it negotiated to do so. It is worth asking about. If teachers are going to be asked to take on leadership positions, I would think that it would be unfair to reduce their pay.

While I fully support opportunities for teachers to grow and develop professionally, I prefer the pay plan that my former distrit used. They paid up to 3000$ for teachers to take courses to grow professionally. I added several certifications this way. Our pay scale had bachelors +15 hours, +30 hours, +45 hours, Masters, Masters +15,+30 +45, etc. It really motivated teachers to take courses and allowed us to have teachers add on certification areas. With NB, there is no added certification. When I came to NC as an outsider (and through two semesters of administrative interning), I have noticed that a lot of the strongest teachers have NB–but some do not. Some of the weakest teachers have it, too…and of course, many weak ones do not. I guess that my point is that it is not a complete endorsement that the teacher that has it is a powerful educator. To me, my former system rewarded professional growth and seemed like a more level playing field. Just my thoughts as a newcomer to NC.

]]> By: mlarkin http://doctortam.edublogs.org/2007/09/18/should-school-administrators-lose-national-board-pay/comment-page-1/#comment-4 mlarkin Fri, 21 Sep 2007 02:43:02 +0000 http://doctortam.edublogs.org/2007/09/18/should-school-administrators-lose-national-board-pay/#comment-4 Great topic to blog! I was not aware of the exact increase in pay for NC teachers holding a master degree. In my opinion a teacher who holds a master degree should receive a higher percent increase in pay than a board certified teacher. There should be certification for school leaders as well. Teachers who have obtained board certification should not lose pay as a school leader. This NC policy contributes to the decreasing amount of school leaders. Teachers who would otherwise serve as great school leaders, decide to stay in the classroom for greater pay & less responsibility. Great topic to blog! I was not aware of the exact increase in pay for NC teachers holding a master degree. In my opinion a teacher who holds a master degree should receive a higher percent increase in pay than a board certified teacher. There should be certification for school leaders as well. Teachers who have obtained board certification should not lose pay as a school leader. This NC policy contributes to the decreasing amount of school leaders. Teachers who would otherwise serve as great school leaders, decide to stay in the classroom for greater pay & less responsibility.

]]> By: mlarkin http://doctortam.edublogs.org/2007/09/18/should-school-administrators-lose-national-board-pay/comment-page-1/#comment-3 mlarkin Fri, 21 Sep 2007 02:41:20 +0000 http://doctortam.edublogs.org/2007/09/18/should-school-administrators-lose-national-board-pay/#comment-3 Great topic to blog! I was not aware of the exact increase in pay for NC teachers holding a master degree. In my opinion a teacher who holds a master degree should receive a higher percent increase in pay than a board certified teacher. There should be certification for school leaders a well. Teachers who have obtained board certification should not lose pay as a school leader. This NC policy contributes to the decreasing amount of school leaders. Teachers who would otherwise serve as great school leaders, decide to stay in the classroom for greater pay & less responsibility. Great topic to blog! I was not aware of the exact increase in pay for NC teachers holding a master degree. In my opinion a teacher who holds a master degree should receive a higher percent increase in pay than a board certified teacher. There should be certification for school leaders a well. Teachers who have obtained board certification should not lose pay as a school leader. This NC policy contributes to the decreasing amount of school leaders. Teachers who would otherwise serve as great school leaders, decide to stay in the classroom for greater pay & less responsibility.

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