National Board Certification and Cognitive Coaching

Abstract

The National Board Certification is a process for educators who desire to pursue a deeper level of professional development and enhance their teaching practice. This certification process coupled with cognitive coaching involved high levels of reflective practices and deepened self-efficacy evident in this study. This study determined that with the use of cognitive coaching an educator self-efficacy would increase depending on what stage they were on in the process. The researcher provided three groups of participants (National Board Certified Teachers, Candidates in the process of National Board Certification and Did Not Achieve) an opportunity to elaborate on their experience moving through the process using a cognitive coach.

An analysis of qualitative and quantitative data revealed that the three groups differed in self-efficacy in favor of the National Board Certified Teacher (NBC) group and that on several aspects of cognitive coaching, the NBC group scored higher than the other groups. As well, each group showed support for the coaching process through certification and revealed that with this coaching they were able to achieve a deeper reflective state of mind.