City and Chicago Public Schools Leaders Celebrate Educators for Achieving National Board Certification

City and Chicago Public Schools Leaders Celebrate Educators for Achieving National Board Certification

More than 110 CPS National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) to be Honored, including Those Earning or Renewing the Prestigious Teaching Credential

CHICAGO- City of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Board of Education President Sean Harden, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) CEO Pedro Martinez, CPS Chief Education Officer Bogdana Chkoumbova, and Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) Vice President Jackson Potter joined Tamara Dudley, Vice President of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, and Dan Montgomery, President of the Illinois Federation of Teachers, for a District-wide celebration of educator excellence Thursday night at Marie Sklodowska Curie Metropolitan High School.

The event honored more than 110 CPS educators who achieved the prestigious National Board Certification—the highest professional certification for educators in the United States. Of the honorees, 36 educators earned their National Board Certification for the first time, while 80 successfully renewed their certification within the past year.

“I am incredibly proud of everyone who dedicated themselves to earning or renewing their National Board Certification,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “What excites me even more is knowing our students will learn from such passionate and accomplished educators—a gift that will have a lasting, positive impact on their lives and the future of our city.”

National Board Certification is a rigorous, performance-based process that identifies and celebrates accomplished teaching. It reinforces CPS’s deep commitment to student achievement by recognizing educators who lead with expertise, empathy, and a profound sense of purpose.

“Through the CPS-funded National Board Certification program, we’re giving our teachers, counselors, and librarians the tools to elevate their practice,” said CPS CEO Pedro Martinez. “This two-year professional development journey is demanding and transformative. When our educators thrive, our students thrive.”

Since 1997, more than 2,500 educators in CPS have achieved National Board Certification, placing CPS third among the top districts in the nation with the highest number of Board certified teachers.

The certification process is grounded in the “Five Core Propositions,” which emphasize a commitment to student learning, subject matter expertise, effective instructional practices, reflective teaching, and professional collaboration.

CPS and the Chicago Teachers Union support candidates through the Nurturing Teacher Leadership (NTL) program, a nationally-recognized, CPS-CTU partnership that offers a comprehensive, two-year pathway to certification—at no cost to participants.

“Students thrive when experienced, passionate educators lead their classrooms. We proudly celebrate the 2,490 National Board Certified Teachers in our schools—38 percent of whom are educators of color—who help students realize their potential,” said Stacy Davis Gates, CTU president. “With our new contract ratified, we look forward to working with CPS to strengthen our National Board partnership and ensure every student receives the high-quality education they deserve.”

The NBCT program maintains a 93 percent achievement rate among educators who engage in peer-driven professional development that fosters growth and often results in salary increases, stipends, or bonuses. National Board Certified Teachers are recognized as accomplished experts in their field, earning greater respect from colleagues and their communities.

“These incredible teachers work tirelessly to amplify the brilliance of their students,” said Lynn Cherkasky-Davis, Director of Teacher Leadership at the CTUF Quest Center. “While this is a major personal milestone, it also represents the collective impact that Board-Certified teachers have on the entire CPS community and on the future of our profession.”

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