The opportunity of a National Board Certification came on the eve of celebrating fifteen years of teaching. Almost half way through my career as a Special Education teacher, I was enticed by the possibility of a new challenge and intrigued by the notion of a pay increase. The two-year trek toward certification tested both my both personal and professional fortitude. Although the outcome brought great satisfaction, the true benefits came as a result of the journey. Given the complex work demands and complicated students, it’s no surprise that the attrition rates of special educators in public schools are twice that of regular education teachers or that there has been a national shortage of special educators for decades. After fourteen years teaching students across K-12 with various exceptionalities, I was in a teaching slump. Since I had no plans to leave the field, I needed to reflect, revaluate, and rededicate myself to the practice of teaching. The prospect of a National Board Certification was one way I knew I could revitalize my interest and practice.
From the beginning, …show more content…
Again, I was tasked with improving my work. I consider myself a lifelong student, but I also considered myself an expert in my field and a seasoned professional. Although disappointed at the time, I found that when I humbled myself and got curious about how I could develop and enhance my work, I was able to refine, revise, and make the necessary improvements. This part of the experience was the most meaningful part of the process. I couldn’t help but equate the initial failure and accompanying feelings to those of some of my students who struggle to achieve and overcome obstacles on a daily basis. I was inspired by thoughts of grit and sticktoitiveness often displayed by students who persist despite intellectual and emotional