Ten Districts Top List of Arizona Public Systems Most Financially Invested to National Board Certification

Many NBCTs will share that they first became interested in pursuing National Board Certification when they heard there could be a boost in pay. Then, when in the process, they realized the value to their practice, their students, and their confidence that this program offers.

Providing additional compensation for National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) is a significant way districts can both speak to the power of this process and support educators’ pursuit of becoming Board-certified.

Last school year, Tolleson Union High School District’s governing board approved increasing the stipend for NBCTs from $1,000 annually for three years to $5,000 annually for the life of the certification.

The number of National Board candidates in the district grew from four last school year to 24 this year. Several of this year’s new candidates were considering the process last year with a National Board Pre-Candidacy Class, but that number grew when Tolleson Union announced the stipend increase.

“I think it goes a long way towards teacher retention,” said Melissa Girmscheid, NBCT, physics teacher at West Point Leadership Academy in Tolleson Union, and president of the Tolleson Union Education Association. “It shows we’re really investing in our teachers. We’re investing in their professional development. It’s a great way for districts right now to make the case that they are really wanting to not only retain really great teachers but also attract really great teachers.”

Girmscheid shared that the district association requested an increase for NBCTs during the collective bargaining process with the district. The association provided information about NBCT compensation in other Arizona districts and across the country. The district then returned with the $5,000 annual stipend, making them a top district in the state for what it financially offers NBCTs.

At that time, Tolleson Union had four NBCTs, three who had originally certified in other districts. Increasing the stipend demonstrates how much Tolleson Union values great instruction that ultimately benefits students and sees the power of the National Board process to do that.

“I’ve been through a lot of professional development, I lead a lot of professional development, and it was by far the best time investment I made in my classroom practice,” said Girmscheid. Increasing that stipend “really right away shows that they value the personal growth and the professional development and the time that it takes” to become an NBCT.

More than 50 Arizona school districts provide a stipend or some sort of financial incentive to NBCTs. Following are the Arizona public school districts offering the most significant financial incentives in the state, from our collected data as of fall 2024.

• Amphitheater Public Schools – raise to educational specialist level, which is between a master’s degree and doctorate on the pay scale 
• Buckeye Elementary School – $5,000 annual stipend for NBCTs, and $1,000 for when candidates submit your final component
• Dysart Unified School District – 5% added to base pay after certification
• Ganado Unified School District – $5,000 annual stipend
• Littleton Elementary School District – $4,800 annual stipend, if on teacher contract
• Mesa Public Schools – $4,000 at time of achieving, $1575 per year after that
• Phoenix Elementary School District – $2,500 stipend and raised to the equivalent of a doctorate on the pay scale
• Safford Unified School District – Offers compensation of 3.5% of base pay
• Tempe Elementary School District – $5,000 annual stipend
• Tolleson Union High School District – $5,000 annual stipend

Is your district providing a stipend of $4,000 or more or a significant addition to teachers’ base pay for being an NBCT and missing from this list? Let us know at nbnow@azk12.org. We want to celebrate your district’s commitment to this work!