Guthridge fourth grade teacher Cody Holmes has joined the elite ranks of National Board Certified Teachers, the highest, most respected certification for educators in the U.S.
National Board Certification is a rigorous, voluntary process, considered to be the “gold standard” for educators.
“I would like to offer my congratulations to Cody Holmes on achieving his National Board Certification in Literacy: Reading–Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood, ” Guthridge principal Kurt Friess said. “This is an incredible accomplishment that reflects his passion, expertise, and unwavering commitment to helping students grow as readers, thinkers, and lifelong learners. His hard work and dedication continue to inspire not only our students, but colleagues and community as well.”
Holmes is one of three current Parsons USD 503 teachers who has earned National Board Certification. Michell Piva and Tiffany Hicks both received their NBCT as Middle Child Generalists, in November 2007, and successfully renewed their certifications with additional work in 2017.
This certification is an added layer of professionalism for Holmes, elevating and refining his teaching skills. He received his bachelors in education from Pittsburg State University 10 years ago. He then went through Fort Hays State University for his masters in education as a reading specialist. After waiting a few years, he decided to tackle National Board Certification.
Holmes said it is Piva, the instructional Coach at Guthridge, who encouraged and pushed him to take on the challenge.
Piva said she encouraged Holmes to pursue his National Board Certification because she believed that he could meet the rigor of being self-reflective of his teaching practice while completing four intensive components
“The self-reflection piece leads to becoming a stronger practitioner which, in turn, leads to increased student academic performance,” Piva said.
To help ensure his success, Holmes said he divided the four components up, tackling two each year.
“This is not a fast, easy, quick thing. It is very challenging and you have to be very reflective,” Holmes said. “ It’s nationally recognized as this outstanding teacher program and you have to prove yourself, basically.”
“Cody is a gifted teacher who enjoys the challenge of learning new strategies, and he adapts well to change. Going through the NBCT process is difficult...there are moments of doubt and late nights of thinking through lessons before video-taping yourself with students the next day. The process involves a renewed look at teaching practices, updating materials, and knowing your content well so that evidence of student growth can be reached,” Piva added. “Good teachers reflect on their teaching all the time, but earning a passing score on the components that National Board Certification requires is a special achievement that goes above and beyond. Cody should be very proud of this accomplishment.”
While passing rates vary year to year, it is estimated only about 40% of teachers pass the certification on their first try.
The process to receive the national certification was much more challenging than earning his masters, Holmes said. He is relieved the process is over, but thankful he did it.
There is a financial benefit. Nationally Board Certified teachers in Kansas receive $1,000 annually from the state. Parsons USD 503 then matches that.
There is also the benefit to further developing one’s skills as a teacher, Holmes said, explaining the details of the components and what he had to do to work through each one.
“Your brain changes a little bit, to where now you are asking, why are you doing this assignment? Why are you reading this? Why are we working on this? Is it just because the curriculum says so? Well that is not a good enough response,” he said. “Now you are thinking, by doing this what will the kids learn? Will it truly help them? What is the end goal? It just makes your brain become more analytical and reflective. You are always thinking about will this help? How will it help? How much will it help? And going from there.”
“For others, I would encourage them to go for it,” Holmes said, “knowing there are financial benefits, and benefits to becoming a more reflective and analytical teacher, with the idea in mind that it is a very challenging process.”
Friess said Holmes serves as a shining example of the excellent, quality teachers working at Guthridge and in USD 503.
“In his 9 years of teaching 4th grade at Guthridge Elementary School he continuously demonstrates an outstanding commitment to not only teaching his class of students, but also supporting and promoting Parsons schools,” Friess said. “Well deserved, Mr. Holmes. Congratulations on reaching this outstanding professional milestone.”