American Board Plans Teacher Certification Information Sessions in Pennsylvania

WASHINGTON, DC (May 23, 2005) — The American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence will hold Teacher Certification Information Sessions in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania June 13-16, 2005.

America needs between 2.2 and 2.4 million new teachers over the next ten years. The events are designed to attract knowledgeable, motivated individuals with the desire to teach to earn the Passport to Teaching^SM certification. At the events, attendees can meet with American Board representatives to discuss the certification process and have their questions answered.

Recognized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the American Board’s Passport to Teaching SM process is a time-efficient, cost-effective and individualized way to certify highly qualified teachers. Individuals seeking a Passport to TeachingSM must hold a bachelor’s degree. Once a Passport to TeachingSM is obtained, candidates must complete certain requirements during their first year in the classroom as detailed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Individuals seeking Passport to TeachingSM certification must prove mastery on rigorous examinations of subject area and professional teaching knowledge.  Passport to TeachingSM certifications are available in the subjects of mathematics, elementary education, English language arts, general science and biology.

The Information Sessions will take place at the following locations:

June 13 – Hilton Philadelphia – City Avenue Haverford Room 4200 City Avenue , Philadelphia , PA 19131 Information Session from 6-9 PM

June 14- St. Joseph’s University Mandeville Building , Room 203 5600 City Avenue , Philadelphia , PA 19131 Information Session from 2-6 PM

June 16- Point Park University JVH Auditorium on the second floor of Academic Hall 201 Wood Street , Pittsburgh , PA 15222 Information Session from 2-8 PM

For more information, please contact: Andrew Campanella, Director of Communications Phone: 202-261-2634, Mobile: 202-246-2155 Email: acampanella@abcte.org

The American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (www.americanboard.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 TeachingSM 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 TeacherSM should be available in 2006.

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

American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence 1225 19th Street NW Suite 400 · Washington, D.C. 20036 Toll Free: 1-877-NOW-ABCTE (1-877-669-2228) · Phone: 202-261-2620 · Fax: 202-261-2638 contact@abcte.org.  Passport to TeachingSM and Master TeacherSM are service marks of the American Board.