Distinguished Teacher

In 2006, ABCTE began building a certification program to recognize Distinguished Teachers. By collecting and analyzing data collected from schools and teachers nationwide, we have created a valid and reliable certification process to identify teachers who positively impact student achievement.

What makes a Distinguished Teacher?

During the certification process candidates are judged and awarded points on each of the four elements that make a Distinguished Teacher as noted in the chart below. You can find the details on how we measure each element by clicking on them in the table below.

Distinguished Teacher Elements	Points
Impact on Student Learning Gains	0-40
Excellent Teaching Practice	0-30
Distinguished Professionalism and Leadership	0-15
Subject Matter Expertise	0-15
Total Achievable Points	0-100

Element #1- IMPACT ON STUDENT LEARNING GAINS

A Distinguished Teacher’s students must, on average, make more than one year’s worth of growth while in their class.

We use a statistical teacher impact model to control for students’ characteristics. This process provides the most scientifically accurate and fair representation of a teacher’s effectiveness. The impact model can accommodate all tested subject areas by using a yearly student growth scale.

Element #2- EXCELLENT TEACHING PRACTICE

A Distinguished Teacher must demonstrate quality classroom instruction that can be evaluated by certified observers during in-classroom observations.

We use the CLASS observational rubric and system developed by the Center for Advanced Study on Teaching and Learning at the University of Virginia. Through extensive research, scores on the CLASS observation system continuously display a strong correlation with student achievement.

Element #3- DISTINGUISHED PROFESSIONALISM AND LEADERSHIP

A Distinguished Teacher must display outstanding professionalism and leadership that can be evaluated by the teacher's supervisor. With our an assessment tool supervisors compare the teacher’s strengths and weakness to other teachers they have managed. The evaluator must also provide specific evidence for each category rating.

Element #4- SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE

A Distinguished Teacher possesses the subject matter knowledge necessary to deliver top quality instruction at all levels of their field of practice. We use rigorous content examinations developed by ABCTE to measure subject matter expertise.