When the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards announced its 2010 Class of National Board Certified Teachers on December 15, 2010, Johnstown High School physics teacher Heather Buskirk was among the small group of New York State teachers recognized. While more than 8,600 teachers and school counselors across the country achieved certification, only 131 teachers from New York made the grade. The District congratulates Ms. Buskirk for being one of them.

Per the NBPTS web site, National Board Certification is an advanced teaching credential that complements a state teaching license. The process consists of a four part portfolio that can take up to three years to compile (although Ms. Buskirk completed it in approximately  one year), as well as a six part exam taken at an assessment center. All of the work of the portfolio focuses on the teacher’s classroom, forcing the teacher to view his or her own teaching through a critical lens and to reflect on his or her own practice. When asked what spurred her interest in completing the rigorous certification program, Ms. Buskirk said “I was drawn to the process because I thought it would help me to reflect upon and improve my own practice.”

She indicates she had tremendous support from the Knowles Science Teaching Foundation. “I was a recipient of the Teaching Fellowship from 2004-2009 and am still involved with the organization as an alumnus. They provided me with extensive professional development opportunities and classroom materials, gave me use of a camera to record my teaching for the portfolio, helped to cultivate the skills of reflective teaching, and supported me through a national network of other enthusiastic beginning science teachers. I was also supported through the Greater Capital Region Teacher Center, which ran support groups, workshops and classes I attended along with other candidates.”

When asked if she would recommend the experience to others, Ms. Buskirk replied “There are currently few tangible benefits for a NBCT in our district in a traditional sense, but I feel that it has helped me become a better teacher. Through critical analysis of my own work, I was able to identify my own areas of strength and needs for growth. It has helped me to push myself to continue to improve my own teaching and ultimately student learning in my classroom. The process itself was rather grueling, but after completing the work, I am very proud of what I accomplished. National Board really recognizes how complex and challenging teaching is as a practice.”

A native of St. Louis, Ms. Buskirk is in her sixth year of teaching physics at JHS, coming to the District immediately after completing her Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees at the University of Virginia in 2005.


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