BloomBoard to Support Region One and RSIZ Invest in Professional Learning

BloomBoard supports commitment organizations like Region One and RSIZ make to invest in their teachers' professional learning and growth.

FREMONT, CA: In collaboration with BloomBoard, Region One Education Service Center (ESC) and Rural Schools Innovation Zone (RSIZ) engages teachers with coaching and competency-based help to prepare their candidacy for National Board certification. Based on the terms of Texas's state approved Teacher Incentive Allotment, educators that secure National Board certification will be automatically designated as recognized teachers starting January of 2021 and eligible for considerable pay increases between $3,000 and $9,000 annually. Exact funding is estimated based on students' socio-economic status at the school where the Board-Certified educator teaches and the school's rural status.

National Board certification is an opportunity for Texas educators to be paid what they're worth by giving them a Recognized designation. This certification generates a domino effect, first elevating the teacher's expertise, rigor, test scores, and graduation rates. Besides the well-documented research suggesting the efficacy of National Board-certified teachers and about 300,000 teachers in the state, there are only about 1,000 National Board-certified educators in Texas. Given the lesser population of in-state certified teachers, some of the mentors and coaches are accessible to teachers interested in certification. Most teachers are not aware of National Board certification wholely and the incentives available to those that certify.

Texas is one among the states leading the way in offering meaningful incentives for educators to prove their mastery as teachers. Several certification candidates struggle on their first attempt, and BloomBoard found a partner that took the time to understand what teachers need to have the best chance to earn certification. The competencies underlying the micro-credentials they tailored for National Board pre-candidates, coupled with the National Board-certified coaches they provide, match perfectly with the support the company desires for its teachers. Presently, there are plans for 25 Region One and 30 RSIZ teachers to receive pre-candidacy help and coaching through BloomBoard.