Mauro Diaz

 

Good Evening

 

It is an honor and privilege to congratulate you and share with you the experience of accomplishing National Board Certification.  Thank you to the Ellbogen Foundation for giving me the opportunity to be here and to improve my teaching.  I now feel like I am part of a larger effort to improve student learning in Wyoming.

 

I would also like to recognize my principle, Walt Wilcox, for creating an environment at Dean Morgan JH School where teachers are given the opportunity to succeed and be the best in their profession. 

 

And, I know all the newly certified teachers in this room would join me in thanking our families for the sacrifices they made so that we could pursue this endeavor.

 

I began my teaching career at I.S. 162 in the South Bronx in New York City.  I had not entered the teaching profession in the traditional means.  I was working in the business profession in Laramie and after seven years I gradually came to the conclusion that I was in need of a different challenge - one where I could fulfill my sense of commitment to my community and nation.

 

I pursued a degree in biology at the University of Wyoming and then, in 2002, accepted a position as a New York City Teaching Fellow.  This was an opportunity to move across the country to teach at an inner-city school without any prior teaching experience, nor a degree in education, or much guidance from anyone.  I was given a classroom with 32 students to teach two subject areas (science and math) while I also completed a graduate degree.  Don’t ask me why – I still don’t know why I did it.  Maybe the wind in Wyoming finally pushed me over the edge.

 

To put it nicely - I was thrown to the wolves.  Being a New York City Teaching Fellow was hard work that demanded everything I could give.  But it was also an extraordinary experience that allowed me to work with students from different parts of the world.  Their work ethic was intrinsic and they were hungry for an education.

 

When I came back to Wyoming nearly 7 years ago I wanted to know what more I could do as a teacher.  How I could improve student learning.  I did not want to feel complacent.  I needed assurance that what I was doing in the classroom was effective – that all of this hard work was making a difference.  This is what led me to pursue National Board Certification. 

 

The process brought me a much-needed challenge and an opportunity to extend myself.  To see if I was qualified to be in front of my students, delivering the best instruction and meeting their needs.

 

I dove headlong into the certification process  - beginning in November and submitting all 4 entries by April.  I had heard it was a difficult process, but I thought I could do this…no problem… I had 5 months!  After my experience in New York, I thought I could do anything.  Boy was I wrong.  I under-estimated the rigor of the process and the time it would demand.  

 

I had gotten an initial push from Barbara Maguire and after that, for the most part, I worked alone.  I didn't want anybody to know I was embarking on this journey.  Because, what if I failed?  How would I explain to my colleagues that I was not up to the challenge?  So I kept it to myself.  But achieving Certification is a humbling process and I did not achieve certification my first year, or my second.

 

Despite the self-doubt, I had to gather the courage to truly evaluate myself.  I had to pick myself up and continue so that I could improve my practice as a teacher.  So, I was led on a path of self-reflection.  It was uncomfortable, but I was committed to this process.   After all, I still agreed with the philosophy and systematic method of improving.  In the end, this was about the students because they deserved the best of me.  

 

And although I had not yet achieved certification, I knew I was improving.  I could see growth and the effects it had on the students.

 

After the first year, I turned to one of our I.F.s (Jim Cobb) for support.  It was good to have a sounding board, someone to provide encouragement and feedback.  Someone to help videotape my lesson, without worrying if the camera was working or if the sound was loud enough.  I realized the process was not about perfection but about improving, reflecting, learning.  About sharing your experience with others, even if they were failures.

 

When I found out in November that I passed the certification, I felt a great sense of relief.  It had been a long journey.  But there was also an odd disappointment in feeling like I had been learning so much and now it was over.  It felt like there was more for me to do. 

 

Then on December 1st, I had several phone calls during the day from the National Board.  When I checked my messages, a woman said she wanted to speak with me about my entries.  I’m sure you can imagine what was going through my head.  My first thought was that in all the confusion and delay in getting the scores released, they somehow tabulated my entry incorrectly and I had not certified.  What was I going to do?  I had already told people at school I had passed.

 

To my great relief, that was not the case.  Instead, she was notifying me that I was going to receive an invitation to the White House to participate in a forum on effective teaching.   

 

This was a one-day event with the Secretary of Education, White House officials, members of the Dept. of Education, and 24 other newly certified teachers from across the country.  The discussions were lively and enriching.  It was a great experience.  Policymakers posed questions to us like: 

 

1. How can we attract the brightest students to the teaching profession?
2. What would it take to raise the standards of the profession?
3. How do we keep Certified teachers engaged?
4. Can the system of compensation be improved so that incentives are better tied to effective teaching?

 

Participating in these discussions was a phenomenal experience and gave me even more passion for improving education.  This came at a perfect time, when I was feeling like there was more for me to do.   It was thrilling to share experiences and thoughts with others Certified Teachers from around the country who also cared about being effective in their classrooms. 

 

After hearing their stories and reflecting on my own personal experiences in the Bronx, I can tell you definitively - we are fortunate to teach in the state of Wyoming.  The support we receive from the Ellbogen Foundation is unique. 

 

After returning from Washington D.C., I was feeling a great sense of accomplishment about passing the certification and participating in this national discussion.  After school one day, Tori, the custodian for my floor, walked in my room and asked why I was looking so happy.  She was congratulatory and supportive.  Then she asked me, “Now that you have this accomplishment, what are you going to do with it?” 

 

So that is the question I pose to you.  What are you going to do with your National Board Certification? 

 

Education and the teaching profession are entering a new phase.  Where our schools are moving toward true professional learning communities and where we are continuously improving our practice.  This will require everyone to take on new responsibilities. 

 

This state ... your schools…your community are ripe and ready for your leadership.

 

You have demonstrated that you are a member of your learning community and a leader in your classroom.

 

So… what will be your next step on this journey you have embarked on as a National Board Certified Teacher? 

 

Thank you