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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