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World Class Teacher Program

Jumpstart your journey to National Board Certification

Apply to the WCTP
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Teachers attend a presentation with World Class Teaching Program at Ole Miss

Welcome to the World Class Teaching Program at the University of Mississippi!

The World Class Teaching Program (WCTP) supports teachers in Mississippi and across the country who are interested in completing their National Board Certification.

  • National Board Certification is a rigorous process that assesses a teacher's knowledge and skills.

WCTP helps teachers prepare for the National Board Certification. With our help the National Boards will be easier than you ever thought possible. 

Why is the National Board Certification important?

National Board Certification sets you apart from the rest of your peers and sets you up for future opportunities. 

Teachers who earn National Board Certification:

  • Are experts in their field
  • Are part of network of educators constantly working to improve their skills
  • May receive salary increases from their state or school district
  • May have their certification count as state licensure, renewal, or a step increase
  • If teachers work in Mississippi, their fees will be reimbursed by the state after they’ve completed all the required components.
  • Increase retirement benefits. 

The WCTP offers a variety of resources to help teachers prepare for and succeed in the National Board Certification process, including mentoring, workshops, and online courses.

Interested in National Board Certification?

National Board Certification gives teachers the professional development needed to directly impact the lives of their students.

National Board Certification by the Numbers

$475 Component Reimbursement

The Mississippi Department of Education will reimburse first-time candidates $475 for the components.

$6000 increase in salary

All public school teachers in Mississippi receive an annual salary increase of $6000 once they certify.

Additional $4000 stipend available

Mississippi Teachers in 16 counties receive an additional $4000 stipend, which totals $10,000 annual NBCT stipend. Counties included are: Adams, Amite, Bolivar, Claiborne, Coahoma, Holmes, Issaquena, Jefferson, Leflore, Quitman, Sharkey, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Washington, Wilkinson, and Yazoo. (House Bill 207).

Maintenance of Certification (MOC)

Learn more about the steps needed to maintain your certification.

How does the WCTP Work

 

  • Once a candidate has registered with the National Board, they should register with the World Class Teaching Program for candidate support.
  • We offer face to face in select locations and online everywhere.
  • Mentoring runs from September-November and January – May
  • All candidates receive an annually trained NBCT mentor, place in our one-of-a-kind candidate support course, WCTP 601, a full ATLAS subscription, and many additional resources including a Pinning Ceremony.
  • Our annual fee is an affordable $50. We scholarship any candidate who did not certify or teaches in one of the 16 counties designated by MDE, House Bill 207.
  • We annually certify 45% to 60% of Mississippi new NBCTs!

The Four Components of National Board Certification

The National Board Certification was created by teachers for teachers to help educators across the country level up their practice and become leaders in their school district.

In order for National Board Certification to mean so much to teachers, students, and school districts, it has to be rigorous and holistic. The process of certification is built upon four components. 

The four components to National Board Certification include: 

  1. Content knowledge. This is a computer-based assessment that demonstrates your knowledge and pedagogical practices in your certificate area.

    This includes 3 constructed response exercises and approximately 45 selected response items
  2. Differentiation in instruction. This is a classroom-based portfolio and is primarily comprised of student-work samples that demonstrate the student’s growth over time and produce your own written commentary that analyzes your instructional choices. 
  3. Teaching practice and learning environment. This is a classroom-based portfolio that requires video recordings of interactions between you and your students. You will also include a written commentary in which you describe, analyze and reflect on your teaching and the recorded interactions.

    Both the video and the written commentary should demonstrate how you engage students and impact their learning. 
  4. Effective and Reflective Practitioner. This is a portfolio entry that provides you with the opportunity to highlight your abilities as an effective and reflective practitioner in developing and applying your knowledge of your students.

    The component focuses on data driven instruction and decision making that impacts student learning centered around an identified student need.