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AMERICAN Board Founder & President Dr. Kathleen Madigan Announces Resignation

WASHINGTON, DC (September 14, 2005) — Dr. Kathleen A. Madigan today announced that she will step down as president of the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (www.abcte.org), effective September 30, 2005.

 

Madigan will continue to serve as a senior advisor to the organization and as a member of the ABCTE board of directors. ABCTE Chief Operating Officer David W. Saba will lead the organization until a new president is named.

 

Madigan says she leaves the office with great pride in the American Board’s accomplishments and with deep gratitude for having had the opportunity to lead the organization as it developed a premier national alternative route to the teaching profession.

“I am thrilled that we have provided a new pathway for talented and knowledgeable individuals to enter the classroom; I look forward to working with the American Board in its next phase of development,” said Madigan.

“The American Board thanks Dr. Madigan for her tireless work and unsurpassed dedication,” said Anthony Colon, ABCTE chairman. “The American Board is a solid organization with a strong board and fine staff. With the foundation built by Dr. Madigan, ABCTE will continue to recruit and certify teachers for classrooms throughout America.”

Under Dr. Madigan’s leadership, the American Board developed and implemented the premier national alternative route to the teaching profession. Passport to TeachingSM is a breakthrough approach to teacher certification for highly knowledgeable professionals who want to change careers and become teachers and for well-educated college graduates seeking entry into the field.

In less than four years, the American Board has developed and launched Passport to Teaching certification in six fields: English (grades 6-12), mathematics (6-12), general science (6-12), biology (6-12), elementary education (K-6), and special education (K-6). Other certifications are currently being developed.

As a basis for these certifications, the American Board worked with 500 renowned teachers, administrators, policymakers, and scholars to develop knowledge standards for teachers in seven key areas, standards that serve as national models for what teachers should know in order to advance student achievement.

In addition, the American Board has collaborated with experienced educators across the U.S. to develop and field test teacher certification examinations, and trained a cadre of teachers to serve as advisors for individuals pursuing Passport to Teaching certification.

In March 2005, the American Board implemented the first major marketing and recruitment initiative to promote Passport to Teaching. Already, nearly 700 individuals are enrolled in the program, with thousands of other individuals considering applying for certification.

Building on Dr. Madigan’s leadership, the American Board will continue to make a positive difference in education for decades to come. The organization is planning to launch its Master TeacherSM certification—which will recognize experienced teachers of distinction and proven effectiveness—in the spring of 2006. In addition, the American Board will soon introduce Passport to Teaching certification in other subject areas, such as reading, chemistry, and history.

 

 

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The American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (www.abcte.org) was created in 2001 to address the need for a highly qualified teacher in every American classroom. The American Board offers the rigorous, five-step Passport to TeachingSM certification process for knowledgeable and passionate individuals entering the teaching field. Passport to Teaching offers individualized learning plans for teaching candidates to complement the knowledge and skills they have obtained through previous work experience.

The American Board is also developing a Master TeacherSM certification to recognize current teachers who significantly advance student achievement. Master Teacher should be available in 2006.

The American Board is recognized as an approved provider of teacher certification in the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.