I called NBPTS today and inquired about theatre certification.
I was told to email.
I did so. And received a prompt response.
Here was my question:
SUBJECT: Theatre certification
Are there plans to add a certification for theatre akin to those for music, art, PE, and world languages? If so, when can we expect it will be rolled out?
If not, why is theatre as a subject being excluded?
Here was the answer I got:
Hello Ryan,
New certificates are based on demand, and we are not aware that NBPTS is considering a unique Theatre Certification at this time. The certificate EAYA/Career and Technical Education (CTE) has a specialty area for Arts and Communications, which does include fine and performing arts--music, visual art, dance, creative writing, and theatre. However, this is a very broad certificate and you would want to read the National Board Standards thoroughly before making this selection. Due to the ongoing revision of this certificate, candidates for the CTE certificate will not begin the new process until 2015-2016. Depending on the focus of your curriculum, you might also consider English Language Arts. A good starting point would be the document Choosing the Right Certificate Area(www.boardcertifiedteachers.org/first-time-candidates).
National Board Customer Support
The question I sent back was this:
How do you determine and define demand? No response yet.
I know there a lot of EdTA folks who are way wiser than I am about this, so I'll put it to them? How does NBPTS determine and define "demand."
I feel like one can only go so far as a layman picking up the phone since all of the available numbers I can find seems to be candidate support (Pearson Company), and there's a lot of distancing language I notice (e.g. customer support Dan's use of "we are not aware that the NBPTS..") signaling that the people we can access aren't the decision-makers.
From someone who understands it more, what is the relationship between NBPTS and the Pearson corp.?
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Ryan Moore
Ferndale MI
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-13-2014 14:03
From: Phillip Goodchild
Subject: National Board Certification for Theatre Teachers?
Excellent!
Now what do we do? We have interest, but no plan. What shall be our plan of attack?
Signed petition?
Well-written argumentative piece of writing?
Charity car wash?
Just trying to get ideas rolling....
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Phillip Goodchild
Valrico FL
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-09-2014 17:32
From: Phillip Goodchild
Subject: National Board Certification for Theatre Teachers?
This message has been cross posted to the following Discussions: Open Forum and Advocacy .
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Right! I've got my National Board certification in Young Adolescence/English Literature; now what?
In a way, one thing that makes me pause and understand why NBPTS does not offer certification in Theatre is that teaching Theatre almost gives one an advantage over other teachers: the core principles of the NBPTS are the bread and butter standard practice of the average theatre teacher.
What area can we start working on? Can we get a petition going? A letter with a bunch of signatories from our membership at EdTA?
Maybe a blog or editorial on how vital Theatre education is, and how particularly skilled the theatre educator should be, and how nice it would be to validate that rather than hide them out the back in shame? Theatre teachers are some of the smartest, most forward thinking and innovative educators I know!
What else can we do to move forward? I'm ready; who's with me? Let's get something moving before the end of 2014!
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Phillip Goodchild
Valrico FL
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Phillip Goodchild
Valrico FL
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