There is something magical about watching someone perform at the highest level of their profession. The Winter Olympics happened this February and the participating athletes have worked tirelessly, tweaking their practices, doing the same motions and moves and drills over and over again to ensure that when it mattered most, their performance was as high-level as possible. There is also an art to these performances—the gracefulness of a figure skater, the soft touch (or two) of a curling champion—that make it much more meaningful than just triple axels and stick saves.
In our visit to Gutermuth Elementary to see Ashley Roller, second grade teacher and newly minted National Board Certified Teacher, we saw the same calculated preparation blended with artful expression that was on display in Milano Cortina this year. Ms. Roller is a gold medal teacher, and our time in her room was just as inspiring and satisfying as watching Megan Keller’s overtime winner.
Why did we find Ms. Roller’s classroom to be so powerful? Every single student had their individual learning needs addressed during the literacy lesson we observed.
The overarching focus for the day was on more complex words formed from two simpler words—cupcake and firefly, for example—and the class had an activity to complete at their table before grabbing a Chromebook for more individualized learning on Lexia. The differentiation came in the form of small groups that rotated out with Ms. Roller and Ms. Acevedo, an ELD teacher at Gutermuth, as the students worked.
Students in their small groups worked on different activities with Ms. Roller and Ms. Acevedo. Some needed additional help on vowel sounds and used manipulatives to create words identified as on-level by UFLI, which Ms. Roller referenced throughout. Some students used manipulatives and images to identify letter sounds in pictures with Ms. Acevedo. Others who were ready for more challenging content read aloud and summarized their reading from a chapterbook with Ms. Roller.
It was evident in Ashley Roller’s room that her class benefited from the same dedication, planning and practice that made Breezy Johnson a gold medalist. The way Ms. Roller’s students transitioned between small and whole group work was further evidence of the artful manner in which she approaches instruction. That is the mark of a gold medalist, and that is the mark of a National Board Certified Teacher.
Having just earned her National Board certification, Ashley was able to provide great feedback for us on what the NBCT process was like for her. As you’ll see below, NBCT is a great way to increase your salary while continuing to practice for that gold medal and is a great way to meet others doing the same.
Why did you choose to become an NBCT?
I heard a lot of great things about NBCT from other teachers in my school—you get a salary stipend, you get a rank change—and it was an opportunity to grow as a teacher.
What was the journey like for you?
Honestly, it was challenging but enjoyable. I like to be challenged, and I built a community along the way with friendships that have continued beyond us passing our certification. It was great to connect with other teachers in JCPS who have similar passion and interest in growing as a teacher. It took me two years, but that was by choice; I didn’t want to overload myself.
How has the NBCT process impacted your classroom?
A lot of the things I did for the NBCT process I was already doing, but the process gave me more opportunities to remember why I’m doing it. With the demanding workload of teaching, sometimes instructional strategies become so routine that you forget why you started implementing them. The certification process gave me a deeper sense of justification for decisions in my literacy instruction. The NBCT journey requires teachers to analyze and reflect on their practice. I considered myself reflective already, but NBCT helped grow that part of me and helped me analyze my students’ growth better too.
Why would you recommend becoming an NBCT to another teacher?
NBCT is an efficient and affordable path for a rank change. National Board Certification is respected and recognized throughout the nation. The work was meaningful and always tied back to what I was doing within my school or classroom.
JCPS offers professional support throughout the school year for NBCT candidates. As you start to plan for the new year, please reach out if you have any questions about NBCT for the 2026-27 school year. You can sign up for an information session on May 13th on Vector-Teachpoint. Contact the Professional Development and Learning Office or review our website at jcps.me/pdl.
professional.learning@jefferson.kyschools.us | 502-485-3415