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Confessions of a New NBCT

By Dan Brown

Since becoming a teacher in 2003, I've experienced a myriad of professional development sessions. A few were eye-opening, some were intriguing, many were unconscionably time-wasting, and nearly all were one-time "drive-by" sessions.

Until I set out to earn National Board certification—which I achieved last month.

The National Board process, a lengthy, expertly constructed inquiry into quality teaching, stands head and shoulders above any other professional development opportunity I know of. At age 30, I still have much to learn (and I expect to believe that decades from now), but the National Board process has...