When I wrote about the Chicago strike, I said that Karen Lewis was one of the few–if not the only–union leader who was a National Board Certified Teacher.
I have heard of two more NBCT union leaders. Let me know if you are aware of others.
Stacey Miller, the president of the Maumee Education Association in Ohio, won NBCT status in 2001. The other is in Tacoma.
A member of the union in Tacoma writes:
One comment, my union, Tacoma Education Association, was on strike last fall for 8 days. We were on strike over how displacement is determined and our union leaders along with a new superintendent put together a great solution. Our president who led us masterfully through the strike is Nationally Board Certified and upon completing his term of office took the position of COO for the National Board. Our current president who was VP for the last term is also National Board Certified. Granted we’re much smaller than Chicago with only about 2400 members in our council but we do elect master teachers to lead us.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Hi Diane,
I am a NBCT (2003) with an earned Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, and I just completed my tenure as President of the Virginia Education Association after serving for four years. There are currently a handful of Presidents of state affiliates of the NEA who are National Board Certified, and I am sure, many more who are Presidents of their locals both large and small. I was glad to read a few weeks ago that Karen Lewis was a NBCT. National Board Certification hasn’t reached the level of respect and credibility that I would like, but there is no debate about the fact that those of us who have gone through that rigorous process care deeply about education as well as about children.
I was President of the VEA from August 2008 until I termed out in July 2012. My biggest battle entailed fighting back on the Governor’s initiative to eliminate continuing contract and thus due process rights for Virginia’s teachers. I personally led the fight to prevent the Governor from being successful. I initiated an email campaign that generated thousands of emails to our legislators, and our Association conducted a “Black Friday” event where teachers all across the state–many of them non-members–and even some administrators–wore black to school on Friday, February 17th to silently protest the attack that teachers were undergoing at the hands of the Governor and the legislature. The tone and tenor of the rhetoric coming out of the General Assembly was hateful and disrespectful, and I for one had had enough of it. I implored my colleagues to stand up for themselves–which in Virginia is no small feat, I assure you. Many of them are just as fearful as the other teachers who have posted comments on your blog. But I was proud that so many of them finally stood up even in a small way to show their solidarity.
Our Black Friday event went viral through Facebook, and luckily, one enthusiastic reporter got the word out through an early newscast so that it really took on a life of its own. News reports from all over Virginia covered the number of faculties who showed up to work on that day wearing black. I even heard of parents who wore black in a show of support.
After three weeks of daily battle, a Republican friend that we still have in the Senate moved to turn the bill back over to the committee for tweaking…killing it for the time being…but it will be back in the 2013 legislative session.
My time is done as President of the VEA, but my time is NOT done as far as my advocacy for public education, for the teaching profession, or for children. I don’t know where I might land next professionally, but wherever I wind up, I hope to be able to continue to read your work, follow your thoughts and the thoughts of your followers. Please keep up the good work, and thank you for all you are doing to elevate the conversation around public education that needs to be held in this nation.
Kitty J. Boitnott, Ph.D., NBCT
Immediate Past President, Virginia Education Association
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I believe Ellen Bernstein head of Albequerque Fed is also NBC
On Tue, Sep 25, 2012 at 8:03 AM, Diane Ravitch’s blog wrote:
> ** > dianerav posted: “When I wrote about the Chicago strike, I said that > Karen Lewis was one of the few–if not the only–union leader who was a > National Board Certified Teacher. I have heard of two more NBCT union > leaders. Let me know if you are aware of others. Stacey ” Respond to > this post by replying above this line > New post on *Diane Ravitch’s blog* > Union Leaders Who Are NBCT by > dianerav > > When I wrote about the Chicago strike, > I said that Karen Lewis was one of the few–if not the only–union leader > who was a National Board Certified Teacher. > > I have heard of two more NBCT union leaders. Let me know if you are aware > of others. > > Stacey Miller, the president of the Maumee Education Association in Ohio, > won NBCT status in 2001. The other is in Tacoma. > > A member of the uni
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Sharon Gallager-Fishbaugh, President of the Utah Education Association, and Penni Cyr, President of the Idaho Education Association, are both NBCTs.
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