Chicago Board of Education Honors 130 National Board Certified Teachers (Chicago, IL) – The Chicago Board of Education on Thursday recognized 130 Chicago Public Schools educators who have earned or renewed National Board Certification, the highest professional credential available to teachers in the United States.
During its monthly meeting, the Board passed a resolution honoring 63 teachers who achieved certification for the first time and 67 who successfully renewed their credentials over the past year. The group will also be recognized at a districtwide celebration March 31 in partnership with the Mayor’s Office and the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU).
Board of Education President Sean B. Harden praised the educators’ commitment to excellence, calling their achievement a reflection of their dedication to students and the profession.
“When CPS educators pursue this distinction, they are choosing to elevate their capacity and to hold themselves to the highest standards of excellence,” Harden said. “Their dedication inspires our entire district and sends a clear message to students that they deserve the very best.”
National Board Certification is a rigorous, voluntary process open to teachers, librarians and school counselors. Candidates spend more than 500 hours over two years analyzing their teaching practices, compiling professional portfolios, collaborating with peers and preparing for content-area assessments.
Chicago Public Schools ranks third in the nation in total number of National Board Certified Teachers, with nearly 3,000 educators holding the credential. District leaders also highlighted ongoing efforts to diversify the teaching workforce. Currently, 38% of CPS National Board Certified Teachers are people of color, while 43% of candidates in the 2025–26 cohort identify as people of color.
Interim CPS CEO and Superintendent Dr. Macquline King, herself a National Board Certified teacher, described the process as transformative for educators and beneficial for students.
“National Board Certification is more than a credential,” King said. “It is a rigorous, two-year professional learning experience that challenges our teachers to reflect deeply on their practice, refine their craft and demonstrate measurable impact on student learning.”
The certification pathway is supported at no cost through a partnership between CPS and the CTU, known as the Nurturing Teacher Leadership program. The initiative boasts a success rate of more than 90% among participating educators and emphasizes peer collaboration and continuous improvement.
CTU President Stacy Davis Gates said the program demonstrates the strength of collaboration between the union and the school district.
“At a time when public education and the profession of teachers is under attack, Chicago and our educators are demonstrating their love of their students and their craft,” Davis Gates said. “We are so proud to lead the Nurturing Teacher Leadership program in partnership with CPS.”
The certification process is built on the National Board’s “Five Core Propositions,” which include a commitment to student learning, subject matter expertise, effective teaching practices, reflective instruction and professional collaboration.
Among the newly certified educators is Katherine Sabillón, a bilingual early childhood teacher at Lloyd Elementary School, who drew on her own experience as an English language learner to support her students.
“Many of my students are doing exactly what I once did: listening carefully, watching closely, and relying on relationships to make sense of their learning environment,” Sabillón said. “Through NTL, I learned how to intentionally respond to those moments rather than leaving language development to chance.”
Education leaders said the certification not only recognizes individual achievement but also strengthens instruction across the district, ultimately benefiting thousands of CPS students.
Lynn Cherkasky-Davis, director of teacher leadership at the CTUF Quest Center, said the accomplishment reflects both personal dedication and broader impact.
“This is a great personal accomplishment, but it is more than that,” she said. “This accomplishment is a reason to celebrate the impact Board Certified teachers have on thousands of CPS students and on our teaching profession at large.”
Chicago Board of Education Honors 130 National Board Certified Teachers
