Candidate Support Provider Job Description
The Wyoming National Board Certification Initiative (WNBCI) recognizes the value and the rigorous nature of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) assessment process. WNBCI believes that candidate support providers can facilitate candidates through the process by providing intellectual, logistical, emotional and technical support.
WNBCI emphasizes that there are two essential guiding principles for candidate support providers. First, support providers must realize that the most essential component of candidate support is to help candidates think about their teaching practice and then, that the responsibility for all decisions, work and success rests solely and completely with the candidate.
Section 1: Definition of a Candidate Support Provider
The Wyoming National Board Certification Initiative (WNBCI) defines candidate support provider as a professional in the field of education who has achieved the outcomes of both basic and advanced candidate support provider professional development programs. The candidate support provider development programs offered or accepted by the WNBCI must meet standards for approval by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
Section 2: Qualifications for Candidate Support Providers
Professionals interested in serving as a candidate support provider for the WNBCI may be a National Board Certified Teacher and any of the following who are trained in the NBCT process: other accomplished teacher, educational leader, staff developer or higher education faculty. The WNBCI recommends that potential candidate support providers be committed to improving education, be current on educational best practices and be willing to facilitate candidates with the WNBCI for at least two years. Further, candidate support providers must commit to act in accordance with the policies and ethical standards of the NBPTS and WNBCI.
Candidate support providers articulate and demonstrate their beliefs that:
• Teaching is a profession;
• Teaching is a public trust that requires adherence to the highest ideals of professional conduct;
• Teachers are lifelong learners who continually deepen their knowledge and skills: and
• Teachers keep current with research and information in their field.
Section 3: Fundamental Responsibilities of a Candidate Support Provider
Roles and responsibilities of the candidate support providers as they facilitate candidates through the process involve providing honest and direct intellectual, emotional, logistical and technical support to active candidates. Specifically, candidate support providers should know and be able to do the following:
• Be available on a consistent basis.
• Be able to honor, respect and value the individuality of candidates.
• Be able to put aside personal biases and use the standards as a focus of candidate support.
• Support candidates by listening to and supporting them in times of stress.
• Be able to empower candidates to take full responsibility and ownership of their candidate
experience and decision-making.
• Be able to facilitate/guide group and individual work sessions effectively.
• Be able to use and recommend the use of NBPTS resources to candidates.
• Understand and be able to explain the NBPTS standards and Architecture of Accomplished
Teaching.
• Understand and be able to explain the assessment process and scoring system.
• Understand and be able to explain the ethical guidelines for their role and the boundaries of
their support.
• Be able to focus candidates on the NBPTS standards and the practice of teaching.
• Understand and be able to explain the NBPTS definitions of descriptive, analytical and
reflective writing.
• Be able to ask questions that encourage candidates to think analytically and to reflect on their
teaching decisions and practices.
• Be able to respond to candidate questions, needs and requests in a manner that is conducive to
success, yet honors their ownership of the work.
• Be able to read entries and provide appropriate feedback to candidates.
• Be able to celebrate both large and small successes during the process with candidates.
A sample candidate support provider/candidate agreement is attached to this policy as Addendum #1.
Section 4: Accountability Processes and Evaluation of Candidate Support Providers
The Initiative will expect that candidate support providers maintain logs of time, activities, contacts and attendance. These support logs will be submitted to the appropriate individual prior to the final payment for candidate support.
Until a formal evaluation process is in place, the Wyoming Candidate Support Coordinator will distribute a survey to active candidates and candidate support providers to elicit their reflections on the quality of the candidate support system and to gather recommendations for improvements to the system. Additionally as it may be necessary throughout the process, candidate support providers will be asked to participate in problem-solving discussions to address unique situations or concerns that arise regarding the roles and responsibilities of candidate support providers and candidates.
Section 5: Recommended Provider/Candidate Ratio
To maximize the effectiveness of the provider/candidate collaboration, the WNBCI recommends a ratio of one provider to three candidates when supporting candidates on an individual basis. Candidate support providers who facilitate a cohort group should limit the number of candidates to ten.
Section 6: Compensation or Incentives for Candidate Support Providers
The Wyoming National Board Certification Initiative will compensate candidate support providers who elect to accept payment and who fulfill the duties as defined in Section 3 at $25 an hour for a maximum of seventy-five (75) hours.
Compensation may be withheld if candidate support providers are unable or do not meet the responsibilities and obligations laid out in this policy.
The Initiative will also facilitate working retreats for candidate support providers to reflect on and improve the candidate support system in Wyoming. Candidate support providers may request funds for resource materials and other incidental expenses. However, expenses must be pre-approved and approval will be based on a prioritization of Initiative needs.
Section 7: Written Agreements
The WNBCI and candidate support providers will sign a written agreement acknowledging and consenting to the responsibilities and obligations of all parties as defined in these policies. Either party may terminate the agreement by notifying the other party in writing.
Section 8: Voluntary Collaboration
The WNBCI recognizes the voluntary nature of the NBPTS process and provides opportunities for all candidates to access the candidate support system which includes pre-candidate workshops, candidate workshops and candidate support providers. Although the WNBCI strongly recommends candidates take advantage of the options provided, the Initiative honors the candidate’s choices to participate or to not participate. Decisions to participate or not will not affect an individual’s access to financial support.
First Draft: April 5, 2006
Presented at Advisory Board Meeting: April 28, 2006
Submitted electronically to Advisory Board for approval: May 12, 2006
Revised August 9, 2006 (included Advisory Board member recommendations)
Revised September 25, 2006 for final Board approval
Revised October 4, 2006 to include Board recommendations from Sept. 25, 2006
Revised July 2010
Revised September 2010