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NBCT Winter 2025 Updates

Winter 2025

NBCT Winter2025 UpdatesWinter 2025

Mentee Orientation Sessions (VIRTUAL)

  • ALL Mentees who requested a mentor/PLF must attend a 30 minute virtual session.
  • Two Virtual Sessions Available:
  • Zoom Links will be emailed to all mentees later this month.

SAVE THE DATE - NBCT Reception: Sunday, March 1

  • NBCT Reception for all New NBCTs and MOCs, past NBCTs, current and future NBCT Candidates.
  • Sandridge Student Center Ballroom - Athens State University

Need Help with MOC?

Maintenance of Effort Support w/ Patty Maze

Important Dates and Deadlines

  • Last Day to Register and Pay Fees: February 28
  • Portfolio Submission Window: April 1 - May 17.

Need At ATLAS Account?

NBCT Scholarships: Deadline to Submit - March 31

  • Scholarship Link
  • The application link can only be accessed through a Google related account. This is the most common problem we have each year when people try to access the link through school accounts.
  • The combined family income cannot exceed $150,000. This is a legislative rule and we cannot vary from it in any way.
  • The deadline for submission is midnight of March 31, 2025. All applications are time stamped and we do not accept applications past midnight of March 31. If an individual is having technical difficulty they should contact me before the deadline and we will work with them. It is amazing how many applications we receive the last day.
  • All applicants will be notified of their status (scholarship or no scholarship) in early May .
  • Funds will not be in their individual National Board accounts until Fall of this year and they cannot access their funds until early 2026. They may begin working on components at any time but they cannot register, submit and use scholarship funds until 2026. They should not register and pay the $75.00 fee this year unless they want to pay for the component themselves.

Spring Writing Retreat: April 11 - 12

Congratulations to New NBCTs and MOCs!!

NBCT Support Team

Brad Lewis, RIC Director

Brad.Lewis@athens.edu

(256) 233-6574

Ellen Thompson, NBCT - North Cohort Specialist

ellenthomp424@gmail.com

Jennifer Priest, NBCT- South Cohort Specialist

Jennifer.Priest@athens.edu

REGISTERING FOR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING SESSIONS

Who May Attend

Any public school teacher, administrator, or board member may attend professional learning sessions hosted by an Alabama Inservice Center (ARIC). The Athens RIC (Region 2) serves all public school districts in Blount, Cullman, Lawrence, Limestone, and Morgan Counties in north central Alabama.


How To Register

All professional learning sessions are listed in PowerSchool Professional Learning. Educators can register for sessions using PowerSchool Professional Learning accounts. All professional learning sessions have hyperlinked registration links. Look for the Register Here wording under each session. Contact district PowerSchool personnel or district technology administrators for assistance with accessing the platform. Retired educators no longer with a school district or without a local education agency (WOLEA) can send a support request to PLadmin@alsde.edu for assistance.


PowerSchool Credit

For your credit to show on your transcript, you need to complete the survey attached to the complete course. You can find this survey in your "Courses" tab in the "My Survey" section.


Please note, all session confirmations are sent to the email associated with PowerSchool accounts. Please verify contact information in PowerSchool (e.g. email addresses, phone number, etc.)

NBCT Components Descriptions

  • COMPONENT 1: Content Knowledge. A computer-based assessment asks you to demonstrate your understanding of content knowledge and pedagogical practices for teaching your content area. You must demonstrate knowledge of developmentally appropriate content, which is necessary for teaching across the full age range and ability level of your chosen certificate area. This is assessed through the completion of three constructed response exercises and 45 selected response items. (40% of Total Score)

  • COMPONENT 2: Differentiation in Instruction. This classroom-based portfolio entry requires that candidates gather and analyze information about individual students’ strengths and needs and use that information to design and implement instruction to advance student learning and achievement. You will submit selected work samples that demonstrate the students’ growth over time and a written commentary that analyzes your instructional choices. (15% of Total Score)

  • COMPONENT 3: Teaching Practice and Learning Environment. This is a classroom-based portfolio entry that requires video recordings of interactions between you and your students. You will also submit a written commentary in which you describe, analyze and reflect on your teaching and interactions with students. Both the video and the written commentary should demonstrate how you engage students and impact their learning. (30% of Total Score)

  • COMPONENT 4: Effective and Reflective Practitioner. This portfolio entry requires you to demonstrate evidence of your abilities as an effective and reflective practitioner in developing and applying knowledge of your students; your use of assessments to effectively plan for and positively impact your students’ learning; and your collaboration to advance students’ learning and growth. (15% of Total Score)

AL NBCT Scholarship Information

Alabama NBCT Scholarship Information

North Cohort Meets in Priceville

North Cohort PowerSchool Registration Info.

North Cohort Participants Must Register for Each Session:


NBCT Session Descriptions

Monthly NBCT Sessions - North Cohort

Title: ATH RIC 2024-2025 ATH-NBCT Kickoff Session (North Cohort)


Description: The Kickoff course offers detailed instructions on application procedures, an overview of the process, helpful resources, grant information, and tips to prepare you for National Board Certification.


Date: Tuesday, August 27, 2024

Time: 4:30 - 6:30 PM

Format: In-Person

Location: Morgan County Educator Resourced Center

235 Alabama Hwy 67

Decatur, AL 35603

Facilitator: Ellen Thompson

Clock Hours: 3 Hours

Register Here



Title: ATH RIC 2024-2025 ATH-NBCT Component 4 Instruction and Planning (North Cohort)


Description: Component 4 is The Effective and Reflective Practitioner component. Collaboration with colleagues to design, plan, and reflect on lesson and assessment ideas. This component is a classroom-based portfolio entry that includes analysis of student assessments, professional learning, students' needs, and collaboration with community to be reflected on in your writing.


Date: Tuesday, September 17

Time: 4:30 - 6:30 PM

Format: In-Person

Location: Morgan County Educator Resourced Center

235 Alabama Hwy 67

Decatur, AL 35603

Facilitator: Ellen Thompson

Clock Hours: 3 Hours

Register Here



Title: ATH RIC 2024-2025 ATH-NBCT Component 3 Instruction and Planning (North Cohort)


Description: Component 3 is The Teaching Practices and Learning environment component. Collaboration with colleagues to design, plan, and reflect on lesson ideas. This component is a classroom-based portfolio entry that includes a video of your interactions with students to be analyzed and reflected on in your writing.


Date: Tuesday, October 22

Time: 4:30 - 6:30 PM

Format: In-Person

Location: Morgan County Educator Resourced Center

235 Alabama Hwy 67

Decatur, AL 35603

Facilitator: Ellen Thompson

Clock Hours: 3 Hours

Register Here



Title: ATH RIC 2024-2025 ATH-NBCT Component 2 Instruction and Planning (North Cohort)


Description: Component 2 is Differentiation in Instruction component. Candidates will collect work samples that exhibit a student's growth over time and how your instructional choices lead to that growth. Candidates will review student samples and discuss next-steps of instruction to facilitate student growth.


Date: Tuesday, November 19

Time: 4:30 - 6:30 PM

Format: In-Person

Location: Morgan County Educator Resourced Center

235 Alabama Hwy 67

Decatur, AL 35603

Facilitator: Ellen Thompson

Clock Hours: 3 Hours

Register Here



Title: ATH RIC 2024-2025 ATH-NBCT Writing Tips (North Cohort)


Description: How to Write for NBCT. The portfolio entry directions for each certificate area require you to describe, analyze, and reflect on your teaching practice. This session is designed to help candidates practice this kind of thinking and writing before you begin working on your written commentary of the portfolio.


Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Time: 4:30 - 6:30 PM

Format: In-Person

Location: Morgan County Educator Resourced Center

235 Alabama Hwy 67

Decatur, AL 35603

Facilitator: Ellen Thompson

Clock Hours: 3 Hours

Register Here



Title: ATH RIC 2024-2025 ATH-NBCT Component 1 Assessment Center Exercises and Informational Meeting (North Cohort)


Description: So your portfolio is close to being ready to turn in, and you're ready to start preparing for the assessment center exercises, but you don't know where to start. Discover endless tutorials and resources that exist both in print and on-line. This class will explore these resources and mentally prepare you for the Assessment Center experience.


Date: Tuesday, February 25

Time: 4:30 - 6:30 PM

Format: In-Person

Location: Morgan County Educator Resourced Center

235 Alabama Hwy 67

Decatur, AL 35603

Facilitator: Ellen Thompson

Clock Hours: 3 Hours

Register Here

South Cohort Meets in Cullman

South Cohort Registration Info.

SouthCohort Participants Must Register in PowerSchool for Each Session:


Monthly NBCT Sessions - South Cohort

Title: ATH RIC 2024-2025 ATH-NBCT Kickoff Session (South Cohort)


Description: The Kickoff course offers detailed instructions on application procedures, an overview of the process, helpful resources, grant information, and tips to prepare you for National Board Certification.


Date: Tuesday, August 27, 2024

Time: 4:30 - 6:30 PM

Format: In-Person

Location: Cullman City Primary School (Multipurpose Room)

900 Hoehn Dr. NE

Cullman, AL 35055

(Near Cullman High School)

Facilitator: Jennifer Priest

Clock Hours: 3 Hours

Register Here



Title: ATH RIC 2024-2025 ATH-NBCT Component 4 Instruction and Planning (South Cohort)


Description: Component 4 is The Effective and Reflective Practitioner component. Collaboration with colleagues to design, plan, and reflect on lesson and assessment ideas. This component is a classroom-based portfolio entry that includes analysis of student assessments, professional learning, students' needs, and collaboration with community to be reflected on in your writing.


Date: Tuesday, September 17

Time: 4:30 - 6:30 PM

Format: In-Person

Location: Cullman City Primary School (Multipurpose Room)

900 Hoehn Dr. NE

Cullman, AL 35055

(Near Cullman High School)

Facilitator: Jennifer Priest

Clock Hours: 3 Hours

Register Here



Title: ATH RIC 2024-2025 ATH-NBCT Component 3 Instruction and Planning (South Cohort)


Description: Component 3 is The Teaching Practices and Learning environment component. Collaboration with colleagues to design, plan, and reflect on lesson ideas. This component is a classroom-based portfolio entry that includes a video of your interactions with students to be analyzed and reflected on in your writing.


Date: Tuesday, October 22

Time: 4:30 - 6:30 PM

Format: In-Person

Location: Cullman City Primary School (Multipurpose Room)

900 Hoehn Dr. NE

Cullman, AL 35055

(Near Cullman High School)

Facilitator: Jennifer Priest

Clock Hours: 3 Hours

Register Here



Title: ATH RIC 2024-2025 ATH-NBCT Component 2 Instruction and Planning (South Cohort)


Description: Component 2 is Differentiation in Instruction component. Candidates will collect work samples that exhibit a student's growth over time and how your instructional choices lead to that growth. Candidates will review student samples and discuss next-steps of instruction to facilitate student growth.


Date: Tuesday, November 19

Time: 4:30 - 6:30 PM

Format: In-Person

Location: Cullman City Primary School (Multipurpose Room)

900 Hoehn Dr. NE

Cullman, AL 35055

(Near Cullman High School)

Facilitator: Jennifer Priest

Clock Hours: 3 Hours

Register Here


Title: ATH RIC 2024-2025 ATH-NBCT Writing Tips (SOUTH Cohort)


Description: How to Write for NBCT. The portfolio entry directions for each certificate area require you to describe, analyze, and reflect on your teaching practice. This session is designed to help candidates practice this kind of thinking and writing before you begin working on your written commentary of the portfolio.


Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Time: 4:30 - 6:30 PM

Format: In-Person

Location: Cullman City Primary School (Multipurpose Room)

900 Hoehn Dr. NE

Cullman, AL 35055

(Near Cullman High School)

Facilitator: Jennifer Priest

Clock Hours: 3 Hours

Register Here



Title: ATH RIC 2024-2025 ATH-NBCT Component 1 - Assessment Center Exercises and Informational Meeting (SOUTH Cohort)


Description: So your portfolio is close to being ready to turn in, and you're ready to start preparing for the assessment center exercises, but you don't know where to start. Discover endless tutorials and resources that exist both in print and on-line. This class will explore these resources and mentally prepare you for the Assessment Center experience.


Date: Tuesday, February 25

Time: 4:30 - 6:30 PM

Format: In-Person

Location: Cullman City Primary School (Multipurpose Room)

900 Hoehn Dr. NE

Cullman, AL 35055

(Near Cullman High School)

Facilitator: Jennifer Priest

Clock Hours: 3 Hours

Register Here

Need an Atlas Account?

Athens Regional Inservice Center

Website: https://www.athens.edu/academics/education/in-service-center/
Location: 1115-A U.S. 31 Athens, AL, USA
Phone: 256-216-6622
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AthensStateRIC
Twitter: @AthensStateRIC

Brad Lewis
Athens State University Regional Inservice Center