First, next, then, last. This simple writing structure was at the center of the day’s lesson with Megan Reedy, National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) and first-grade teacher at Dunn Elementary, when we visited her class in December. We selected Ms. Reedy to be the first NBCT Spotlight because of her incredible MAP data during the 2024-25 school year. Her first graders showed staggering growth between Fall 2024 and Spring 2025. After being in Ms. Reedy’s class, we understood why.
First, the students listened as Ms. Reedy read How to Catch a Snowman to them. She explicitly pointed out how the story followed the “first, next, then, last” structure with each new attempt to catch the pesky snowman. Next, her students worked together to make their own paragraph on a topic of their choice: how to catch a dog. Make a trail of treats to lure the dog toward your trap and entertain the dog until you can spring the trap—just in case you ever find yourself in that same situation.
Then, Ms. Reedy posed a question to her students, “How do students with visual impairments read on their own?” A reader, big text, and visual aids were some of the answers provided, but the students were stumped as to how to help students who couldn’t see words at all and wanted to read on their own. Last, she brought in a surprise guest—Dolores Yowell, an ECE teacher at Kammerer Middle, who works with visually impaired students. She talked with Ms. Reedy’s class over Google Meet about Braille, what it is, how it is made, and how students learn to read it. The students were even more excited when they realized Ms. Yowell had used her Brailler to print customized name cards for each student and would be printing their story of how to catch a dog in Braille for the first-grade MSD class at Dunn.
Being in Megan Reedy’s class for 45 minutes confirmed for us what we already knew and what we had already found support for in growth and achievement data across JCPS: National Board Certified Teachers are master teachers who have honed their craft through repeated and continuous intentionality, professional growth, and honest reflection.
Becoming an NBCT is not for everyone, but it is a wonderful option for teachers looking to improve their craft and increase their salary without the added cost of additional degrees.
Kentucky offers a lifetime rank change for any NBCT, and as Megan mentions in her interview responses below, JCPS offers professional support in achieving certification. One such support is the option to join a cohort of other educators working toward National Board certification. These cohorts meet one to three times per month throughout the school year and are led by National Board-certified teachers (called Professional Learning Facilitators, or PLFs). PLFs help NBCT candidates navigate through the standards, components, language, and challenges of becoming certified.
When we interviewed Ms. Reedy, she discussed how helpful her cohort and PLF, Carrie Thompson at Semple Elementary, were to her throughout the process.
Why did you choose to become an NBCT?
"I really researched it and thought that it would fit my style of teaching and what I was looking for to further myself. I was thinking, 'Do I want a doctorate? Do I want more degrees? More endorsements?' and National Board, I felt, fit what I wanted the most. I love the reflection process and how it could help me grow as a teacher, how I could change with the process, and how I could make myself better as a teacher more often. I feel with degrees, you get the degree and you’re done; you satisfied the process, and that’s it. You have to maintain your certification. You have to prove that you are growing with the times and changing."
What was the journey like for you?
"Fun, at times! It was also a struggle. I had to look at myself and say, 'Wow, these things are not good. What can I do to change?' I also really enjoyed being in a cohort. I was teaching kindergarten at the time and she (Carrie Thompson, NBCT and PLF) was really great at helping. I loved the connection with other people and I started finding like-minded people. What I thought was going to be something that was very stressful ended up being a great way to connect with others and turned out to be a really great process."
How has the knowledge you gained from becoming an NBCT impacted your classroom?
"Tremendously. It has really helped me reflect a lot. I’ve changed a lot of things that I have done in the classroom. You look at things and think, 'Oh, that was mediocre, that wasn’t good. How can I change it?' I went on to learn how to do project-based learning and thrive in that. I went on to get my Gifted and Talented endorsement all from this. All of those things combined have elevated my status as a teacher and what I can do in the classroom."
Why would you recommend becoming an NBCT to another teacher?
"If you want to really make yourself better at what you’re doing, this is the way to go. You’re forced to reflect, you’re forced to look at things and say, 'I can do this better?', and you cannot just keep doing the same thing year after year. That is what being an NBCT really helps you learn how to do; how to look back on things and figure out how to grow and make your craft better."
Is there anything else you would like to share?
"I think a lot of people look at it and think it is a scary process, but it really isn’t. Join a cohort if you can and just work through it. Be with your colleagues, take the advice that is given to you, try your best, and get through it, and you’ll see the advantages of being certified."
JCPS offers professional support throughout the school year for NBCT candidates. If you or a colleague is interested in learning more about the National Board Certification process, please contact the Professional Development and Learning Office or review our website at jcps.me/pdl.
professional.learning@jefferson.kyschools.us | 502-485-3415.
