It's all news to me...
Everybody stumbles into the National Standards program in his or her own way. My experience came about inadvertently because of another program I was working on for the Idaho Education Association. Working with the KEYS (Keys to Excellence in your Schools) program, I was in contact with some of the most dedicated and professional teachers in my district. During a workshop break an elementary school teacher who has a reputation in the District as the consummate 'pro' mentioned that she was busy "getting ready for the National Boards." Curious monkey that I am, one question led to another and our conversation ended with her saying that she'd send me some information. Ya, right! How many times have I heard that little ditty. Short story long, sure enough she e-mails me some web links to the program in Idaho and Nationally, along with the names of some of the program director folks. This was sometime in June of 1998. I read a little on the program and tucked it way for later reference.
My interest in the National Standards program goes to the heart of why this profession has remained interesting and challenging to me, even after twenty years of slogging my way through endless reams of final draft wannabes.
It all goes to that quiet moment of self-reflection (usually on the way home) when I'm parsing what went well that day and what could have been better. Sometimes it's a combination of both, but in any case, even after twenty years there's something elusive about the perfectly smooth lesson or the intelligent and enthusiastic discussion that ends by the class looking up at the clock and announcing with shocked voices, "wow, class is over already."
Online Info...http://www.nbpts.org
