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Gil Speer is a Nationally Certified Teacher.
January, 2002. Gil Speer teaches math at Verdugo
Hills. He not only has vast teaching experience, but also
is now National Board Certified. What's more, he is Verdugo's
first teacher to receive this status! The Los Angeles Unified
School District currently has about 650 National Board Certified
teachers, about half of the Certified teachers in California.
Nationwide one half of 1% of teachers can claim this honor.
The process of completing the work of National Board Certification
typically takes 500 to 1000 hours. Candidates must demonstrate
that they have attained National Board Standards in 10 or
more areas. In math, these areas are:
- Analysis of student work: applications.
- Analysis of student work: assessment.
- Instructional analysis: whole class.
- Instructional analysis: small groups.
- Documented collaboration in the professional community.
- Documented outreach to families and community.
- Advanced subject area examinations such as calculus.*
Nationally, about 45% of candidates are successful in their
first year. Teachers who participate in the LAUSD/UTLA support
network fare better with an 80% pass rate the first year.
A candidate who does not earn a passing total score their
first year may "bank" scores in their stronger
areas and redo entries in other areas. The process of achieving
National Board Certification is highly reflective. It is
both self-analytic and collaborative. It is a powerful tool
for enhancing one's practice as a teacher. Gil Speer would
recommend it to any teacher who believes that an intensive
self-analysis could significantly improve her or her teaching.
* Advanced subject area examinations such as calculus
covers areas 7 to 10.
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