糖心Vlog传媒

Director helps maintain National Board certification at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock through ADE grant

Teachers from across the state can continue to seek or renew National Board certification at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, thanks to an initial grant of $30,000 awarded by the Arkansas Department of Education for the university鈥檚 support site. Over the past nine years, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has grown to serve as the central location for hundreds of teachers seeking to obtain the most respected professional certificate in their field. Much of the university鈥檚 success with the certification program can be credited to Dr. Christine Deitz, who shared her self-generated support site with the university in 2008 and applied for grants that allowed the site to remain with the university. While working to achieve National Board certification in 2003, Deitz, associate director for the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Jodie Mahony Center for Gifted Education, felt unfulfilled with the support she received while working through her certification process. 鈥淲hen I was a candidate, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock was one of the support sites available,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was coordinated by a very good professor who was asked to run the site, but wasn鈥檛 board certified.鈥� In search of more information, Deitz traveled to Conway to work with a board-certified instructor who shared with her insight that could only be received through certification. 鈥淲hen I achieved certification,鈥� Deitz said, 鈥淚 thought, 鈥極h, this is great. I need to give back to the process, and so I鈥檒l start my own support site.鈥欌�� Deitz created the site with the help of two other professionals and soon began hosting support meetings. As weeks passed, however, the number of attendees dropped, so Deitz sought another avenue to help garner participation. 鈥淚 went back to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, met with the dean of the College of Education and Health Professions, and asked if I could bring the support group back to the university,鈥� she said. After stating her claim, Deitz received the green light to start her support site at the university. In the first year, Deitz started with a group of 22 candidates and two additional National Board certified teachers. This year, she is joined by 12 National Board certified support providers, 63 initial candidates, and 27 renewal candidates. 鈥淓ver since 2008, we鈥檝e been growing, and for years now, we鈥檝e been the largest site in Arkansas,鈥� Deitz said. In addition to the support site, Deitz also created a 鈥渏umpstart鈥� workshop to precede the National Board certification process. The one-day event begins in the fall and is free to all Arkansas teachers who are seeking certification or are interested in the certification process. 鈥淲e鈥檙e very passionate about what we do,鈥� Deitz said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e very passionate about giving back and very passionate about making sure every teacher has a pathway to be the best teacher they can be.鈥� Deitz has worked consistently to maintain the stability of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 support site, and continually seeks funding for the program. As an educator, she will continue to improve the certification process, while ensuring the best experience for teaching professionals who hope to advance in the field. For more information about 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Center for National Board Certification, contact Deitz at [email protected].