Teacher quality reached a new milestone in Kentucky with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards’ (NBPTS) announcement that 268 Kentucky teachers were awarded the prestigious National Board Certification in the class of 2012. The achievement recognizes these educators among the top in the profession and promises to improve student learning and achievement in classrooms across the state.
No one in Crittenden County's school district was among the 268, but David Shaffer at Caldwell County High School and Melinda Smith at Caldwell County Middle School, earned certification in Mathematics/Adolescence and Young Adulthood and Science/Early Adolescence, respectively. They were the only recipients of certificates from districts adjoining Crittenden County.
Kentucky is ranked seventh in the number of teachers earning National Board Certification in the class of 2012. The top 10 states with the highest number of teachers achieving National Board Certification in 2012 were North Carolina, Washington, Illinois, California, Arkansas, South Carolina, Kentucky, Virginia, Maryland, and New York. Nationally, 4,980 teachers achieved certification.
This brings the total certified up to 102,237. Kentucky has made tremendous progress and is ranked 10th overall in the total number of teachers in the U.S having earned National Board Certification.
