ӽ紫ý ranks in ‘Top 50 Alma Maters’ preparing graduates to excel as National Board Certified Teachers
Contact: Harriet Laird
STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi ӽ紫ý is listed as a U.S. “2019 Top 50 Alma Mater” for education graduates earning the distinction of National Board Certified Teacher.
Making the announcement this month, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards ranks Mississippi ӽ紫ý No. 14 for total number of NBCTs. Currently, 914 NBCTs are ӽ紫ý graduates.
With its World Class Teaching ӽ紫ý, ӽ紫ý is among five of the state’s Institutions of Higher Learning training teachers in pursuit of National Board Certification. Other universities offering certification preparation are Delta ӽ紫ý and Jackson ӽ紫ý universities, the University of Mississippi and the University of Southern Mississippi. USM and UM also are listed as a “Top 50 Alma Mater” for education graduates.
“The College of Education at Mississippi ӽ紫ý is extremely proud of this ranking and the work being done by our World Class Teaching ӽ紫ý. Nothing is more critical to the future of our state and nation than the quality of teachers within classrooms,” said Richard Blackbourn, college dean.
WCTP ӽ紫ý Coordinator Michelle Stubbs agreed. “This program is designed to mentor teachers through the certification process, so they can be ‘teacher leaders’ in the state’s classrooms, ӽ紫ýs and districts. The National Board Certification process allows teachers to self-reflect and then improve their classroom teaching practices, demonstrate their dedication to their students, and ignite a desire to continue to grow in their profession,” she said.
Two main components of the WCTP are a summer workshop focusing on particular standards for each candidate’s specific certificate area, and one-on-one mentoring throughout the ӽ紫ý year.
Also preparing teachers to become national board certified is the state’s only Master of Science in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Teacher Leadership. The College of Education’s 15-month, 30-hour curriculum is designed to accommodate the lives and schedules of full-time educators. Courses such as educating diverse learners, leadership for positive ӽ紫ý culture, and using data for ӽ紫ý improvement are offered.
Eric Moyen, Educational Leadership department head, said this curriculum “has been designed around the core competencies required for National Board Certification, so as teachers complete their master’s degree they are also preparing to become nationally certified.”
“This program benefits students in our ӽ紫ý systems, and the certification also benefits teachers with a substantial pay increase, helping keep our best teachers in the classroom,” he said.
Those becoming NBCTs and staying in Mississippi earn an extra $6,000 stipend per year for five years after gaining certification. Various districts in the state also add to this amount or even match it.
In Mississippi, a 2017 ӽ紫ý study shows that kindergarten and third-grade students, with a National Board Certified Teacher in reading, perform at a significantly higher level on literacy assessments than peers on average. Kindergartners are 31% more likely to achieve a proficient score on the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment than other students, and third-grade students are 11% more likely to achieve a proficient score on the MAP Test in English Language Arts.
The WCTP and the concentration in Teacher Leadership at ӽ紫ý are both offered on the Starkville campus and at ӽ紫ý-Meridian.
For more information on the WCTP, contact Michelle Stubbs at mls30@msstate.edu or 662-325-3721. For the Teacher Leadership concentration in the Department of Educational Leadership, contact Leigh Ann McMullan at lmcmullan@colled.msstate.edu or 662-325-7110.
Established in 1903, ӽ紫ý’s College of Education is home to six academic departments, one research unit and numerous service units. For more about the college, visit .
ӽ紫ý is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at .