Polk County Schools is one of 79 school districts across the country to be recognized as a National Board Accomplished District.
The program honors districts in which at least 20 percent of its teachers have achieved National Board certification, encouraging teachers to be their best and effectively driving student learning and recognizing school districts that work to promote student learning through accomplished teaching.
The 79 Accomplished Districts come from 10 states: Alabama, California, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Washington.
It marks the second consecutive year that Polk County Schools has been honored as an Accomplished District.
“We are proud to be among the top districts nationwide being recognized as National Board Accomplished Districts,” said Polk County Schools Superintendent Aaron Greene. “We know that teachers drive student learning. One of the ways we work to assure students have access to the best teachers is to encourage teachers to become National Board certified. These teachers clearly teach to high standards and reflect on their practice to get better every day.”
Ronette Dill, Polk County Schools Director of Curriculum and Instruction, said teachers are urged to consider completing the National Board Certification process as soon as they complete the Beginning Teacher Support Program.
Dill said Polk County Middle School assistant principal Nikki Honeycutt provides local support, meeting with individual teachers to help guide them through the National Board process. District teachers can also attend support sessions offered by the Western Region Education Service Alliance.
The National Board Accomplished District program was originally unveiled in 2019 and included 81 districts recognized for their high percentage of NBCTs.
“High quality teaching is the most important in-school factor impacting student learning. The 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,” said Peggy Brookins, a National Board Certified Teacher and the president and CEO of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
