Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1095286
6 Spring 2019 | wyoea.edu "Taking the leap to do this was my proclamation that life was not going to end for me," Anne remembers, "it was a grueling process, but it also allowed me to focus on something besides my fear." According to the American Cancer Society, for all stages of pancreatic cancer combined, the five-year survival rate is a devastating 7%. "It was terrifying, as a mother of three. It was a tough time for me and my family," recalls Anne, "I used my National Board process as an intervention to battle insomnia and the nasty side effects of chemotherapy. I just kept pushing and tried to keep life at home and school as normal as possible." Anne Babiuk is among approximately 650 Wyoming educators to obtain National Board certification with assistance from the Ellbogen Foundation. There is at least one National Board certified educator in 41 of Wyoming's 48 school districts. Wyoming is fifth in the nation in terms of the percentage of NBCTs in classrooms across the state. For the Ellbogen Foundation, Garland says, "this has been a really gratifying journey. Ellbogen has loved supporting teachers and honoring them for the work that they do every day in the classroom for the students. It goes beyond the academic: it's about social, emotional, attitudinal and behavior support that educators provide as National Board certified teachers." It's been 8 years since Anne's certification. She is cancer free and a proponent of National Board certification, "I became a CSP: Candidate Support Provider immediately after receiving my certification because I felt so passionate about the positives. It can be a very revealing process. When you are open to critique and truly evaluate your procedures and outcomes, you have an opportunity to grow in a meaningful way." "I used my National Board process as an intervention to battle insomnia and the nasty side effects of chemotherapy. I just kept pushing and tried to keep life at home and school as normal as possible." Wyoming is 5th in the nation in percentage of National Board certified teachers Need to Know About NBCT As many as 65% of participating teachers will certify over time The John P. Ellbogen Foundation works with the State of Wyoming to cover half the costs associated with certification for partipating teachers Certification must be renewed after 5 years Certified educators receive a $4,000 lump sum payment each year that they are certified, for up to 15 years.* *An amendment to House Bill 24 threatened to slash this payment to $2,000 in the 2019 Legislative Session. This amendment was not adopted. National Board certified educators will continue to receive the $4,000 stipend. Learn more about the National Board Certification Process at www.wnbci.org