Jones Institute for Educational Excellence

National Board Certification is a way for the teaching profession to recognize highly accomplished teaching practice. A certificate awarded by the NBPTS attests that a teacher has been judged by his or her peers as one who meets high and rigorous professional standards. He or she has demonstrated the ability, in a variety of settings, to make sound professional judgments about students' best interests and to act effectively on those judgments.

The Great Plains Center's program, which first began during National Board field testing in 1992-95, continues to grow each year, and to provide improved and expanded assistance, resources, and leadership to recruit and support Kansas teachers through National Board Certification professional development. The program is offered at no cost to Kansas teachers because it is supported by both Board of Regents program enhancement funds and supplemental private funding.