Maine Education Leadership Consortium

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE

PRESS RELEASE
7-23-03

The Maine Education Leadership Consortium announces the availability of full $2,300 scholarships to support selected Maine public school teachers wishing to participate in the National Board Certification process during the coming year. This rigorous, research-based professional development opportunity is part of a national effort to reach goals established by the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future. This will be the sixth year that the Maine Education Leadership Consortium has offered scholarships to Maine teachers. Funds will be available through the generosity of several MELC member organizations and state appropriated funds, and are matched by subsidy from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

The National Board Certification process is for teachers with three or more years’ experience and is voluntary. National Board Certification is one of the highest honors that is bestowed by the teaching profession and is a symbol of commitment to accomplished teaching. There are now almost 24,000 National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT’s) in the nation, and thousands more are going through the process at this time. Maine has thirty-seven NBCT’s and there are several teachers who will be completing the process this summer. NBCT’s are called upon to advise, assist and mentor prospective, new and experienced teachers, and to inform education policymakers. In addition, school systems are more often financially compensating NBCT’s in recognition of their accomplishments.

Those teachers who wish to learn more about the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and the National Board Certification process should visit the NBPTS web site <www.nbpts.org>. Those wishing to apply for a scholarship should visit the Maine Education Leadership Consortium website http://www.umaine.edu/mlc/resources.htm to down-load the application information and materials. The completed application package must be mailed to MELC and received no later than 2:00 p.m. on August 15, 2003. Application materials should be forwarded to: NBC, Maine Education Leadership Consortium, 46 University Drive, Augusta, Maine, 04330. Those persons who are not able to access the information or application materials electronically may receive them by calling 621-3053.