Professional Development for Educators

The Great Plains Center for National Teacher Certification at Emporia State University offers a program of professional development at no cost for teachers in Kansas going through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) assessment process.

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.

Location

If you have an appointment, the Great Plains Center for National Teacher Certification is located within the offices of the Jones Institute for Educational Excellence in the lower level of The Earl Center at Emporia State University, 1601 State St.

Physical Address:

Great Plains Center for National Teacher Certification
Jones Institute for Educational Excellence (not on the main campus)
1601 State Street Emporia, KS

The Earl Center, the office building that hosts the Jones Institute for Educational Excellence, is located off of State Street across from Hammond Park. The two story, brick building houses the Department of Counselor Education on the top level and JIEE on the bottom level.