Background/Purpose The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) has certified National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) since 1995. Studies have shown that NBCTs are highly qualified, hold high senses of self-efficacy, and positively affect student achievement. A probable assertion is that a Community of Practice (CoP) is established among NBC candidates. CoPs have been described as developing a “negotiated regimen of competence”. Identification of NBC processes which assist in the establishment of CoPs would be valuable to the Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) community.
Method This study systematically examined six National Board Certified Physical Education Teachers (NBCPETs). These NBCPETs were interviewed and observed on several occasions to determine the extent to which they were members of a CoP. Data were also gathered via documentation from the NBPTS. Dynamic Systems Theory (DST) was used to examine the practices of the NBPTS in order to better understand its ability to foster the emergence of a CoP. Data were inductively analyzed using constant comparative measures. Trustworthiness of data was established through triangulation, member checks, peer debriefing and negative case analysis.
Analysis/Results NBCPETs in this study exhibited every characteristic which are essential to a CoP. Findings suggest that these NBCPETs function as part of a CoP. Further, it was evident that the NBPTS had created several program processes that DST predicts would likely create a CoP.
Conclusions A major implication of these findings is that PETE programs can through processes similar to NBC create programs which foster the development of CoPs among their students.
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