Wenatchee SD has monetary support for candidates! It does not pay all the fees but it comes close!
Candidates can access the $1000 per year Professional Growth Reimbursement to pay for NBCT candidate expenses. This can be used for Component fees, yearly registration fee, facilitation fees, WEA Jumpstart and WEA Homestretch fees. $1000 is available every year to every candidate.
Candidates receive two substitute days total during their 1-3 candidacy years to be used for writing or the Assessment Center. This is not two days every year.
Two additional substitute days total over the 1-3 candidacy years if you need to translate your Components.
A candidate can access their $1000 Professional Growth money to pay for the initial $75 yearly registration fee. They can also use it to pay for WEA JumpStart taken during the summer as they are starting their candidacy year.
Wenatchee SD offers support classes for a Foundations class, all four Components, Advanced Candidates, and Maintenance of Certificate NBCTs.
Candidates receive free clock hours for each class completed. The fee amount for each class is set by OSPI.
Foundations: Three 2-hour sessions in September and October. Candidates learn about the certification process and descriptive, analytical and reflective writing. This is for required for candidates that do not take Jump Start. Fee: $75
Component 1: One three-hour session in February. Candidates learn about the types of prompts at the Assessment Center and how to navigate the on-line testing format. Fee: $100
Components 2-4: Seven 2-hour sessions per Component, one per month from October to April. Candidates learn about the requirements for each component and how to give and receive feedback on their writing. Candidates also receive feedback from the facilitator. Fee: $175 per component
Advanced Candidate Support: Support will be provided for candidates retaking one or more components. There will be an initial meeting in December followed by on-line reading support. Fee: $150 per component.
Renewal Candidate Support: Support will be provided to candidates that are renewing their certificate after year 8 or year 9. Three initial support meetings will be held in the fall (dates to be determined) and one in February. On-line reading and feedback support is also provided. Fee: $150
Wenatchee School District Facilitators:
Patty Cone, Librarian, Columbia Elementary
Allison Hurt, Kindergarten, Lincoln Elementary
Sally Knipfer, 7th Grade Science, Pioneer Middle School
Sandra Schmidt, 2rd Grade, Lincoln Elementary
Desilee Valeri, Librarian, Sunnyslope Elementary
Mark Woolsey, 5th Grade, Mission View
WEA has two excellent support opportunities for candidates where you can work with facilitators in your certification areas!
Jump Start is a great way to start the certification process! Candidates spend four days organizing and reading their certification standards and component instructions. There is also time to plan where, when and what unit will fit with each component. It is an excellent opportunity to work with a facilitator in your certification area. There are usually late-June dates in the Spokane area and early-August dates in the Seattle area. The fee has been $250 for this four-day event. Since this occurs during the summer of your first candidacy year, the fee can be paid from the Professional Growth Reimbursement that precedes the candidacy year.
2020 Only: Jump Start will be on-line this summer. The dates are July 27-31 and August 10-14. The fee is $50 for some or all of the classes. The registration page and information can be found here.
Home Stretch is a one-day event to finish up the NBCT process. These are usually on March or April and there is one in Eastern Washington and another in Western Washington. There are three options for this day:
1) Candidates can receive feedback from a trained facilitator on two of their completed components.
2) Candidates can receive feedback on one completed component in the AM session and information about Component 1 in the PM session.
3) Candidates can attend Supported Work Time where they can work on their components and there are NBCT Facilitators available to answer questions and provide support. SWT is offered for the AM session, PM session or both.
The fee has been $100 for this one-day event. For more information go to the WEA National Board Home Stretch page
A Conditional Loan is available for candidates through OSPI. It pays $1425 of the NBPTS fee. The loan is paid back from the first bonus check after the candidate certifies. The loan is not guaranteed for all candidates and there is an application process and open window of time for application. For more information, please go the Conditional Loan webpage at OSPI.