Lexington-Richland School District Five has been recognized as a National Board Accomplished District by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, a national nonprofit organization that certifies teachers based on a rigorous set of evaluations and standards.
The National Board Accomplished District program was unveiled in 2019 and included 81 districts, including School District Five, and the second consecutive year the district has received this distinction. The program recognizes school districts across the country that have 20% or more of its teachers that have achieved National Board certification. There are 290 National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) in School District Five.
“National Board Certified teachers in the district play an essential role in improving teaching and learning,” said Michael Guliano, School District Five Chief of Instruction. “By pursuing excellence to attain this certification, these teachers strengthen their teaching practice, improve student success, demonstrate leadership skills and expand their teaching influence and expertise.”
To achieve a National Board certification, teachers must prepare a series of essays, presentations and videos. These items should demonstrate their content knowledge, differentiation in instruction, command of teaching practices and learning environment and their abilities as an effective and reflective practitioner of teaching.
While the state of South Carolina no longer provides incentives for NBCTs, School District Five’s Board of Trustees has continued to provide monetary incentives for teachers to get this certification.
“High quality teaching is the most important in-school factor impacting student learning,” said Peggy Brookins, a National Board Certified Teacher and the president and CEO of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. “The diverse districts that meet the threshold to be included in the National Board Accomplished District program understand the value of quality teaching and support teachers to be their best. We encourage state and district leaders to support National Board certification because NBCTs have a measurable impact on student learning. Every student deserves the best possible teacher.”
The district is one of three Accomplished Districts in South Carolina. Nationwide there are 79 that come from ten states including Alabama, California, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Washington.
Districts will be recognized with an award for the district office and unique celebrations for the NBCTs in those districts.
