National Board Cohort

Published January 15, 2009

On a day when most people are relaxing, more than two dozen Williamson County teachers are hard at work. The teachers are among an elite group of educators participating in the county's first National Board Cohort. The group gathers one Saturday each month at Franklin High School, giving them an opportunity to work together as they strive toward earning National Board Certification.

Ask any teachers who have been through the process and they'll tell you becoming nationally board certified is one of the most difficult things they have ever done. "It's a lengthy process," says Nationally Board Certified teacher Mindy Cushenberry. "It monopolizes your whole life during the time you are going through the process, but it's worth it in the end."

Cushenberry is one of several facilitators who are giving up their free time to help their fellow teachers through this difficult and arduous process. Like board-certified doctors, teachers who achieve National Board Certification have met rigorous standards through intensive study, expert evaluation, self-assessment and peer review. In fact, it can take up to three years for some teachers to complete the certification process.

Williamson County Schools' National Board Cohort was created as a way to help and support the participants as they take on this immense challenge. The cohort began meeting in January of 2008. In the last 12 months, the teachers have gained an immeasurable wealth of knowledge. "It has taken me and stretched me in ways I never imagined," says Kenrose Elementary teacher Lynda Gunter. "It has proven to me that after 27 years of teaching I can still learn myself."

"The bottom line is that it increases your effectiveness," says Sunset Elementary School teacher Laura Kleman. "I am such a better teacher because of this process."

The deadline for teachers to turn in their work is March 31. And while many of them will eagerly await the results, they all agree the process has been well worth it regardless of the outcome.

"If I get nationally board certified it will be wonderful," says Heritage Elementary teacher Sylvia Coile-LeMay. "But even if I don't, the time we spend reflecting on our own practice and the influence that we have on children is not measurable even by national board standards."