All Aboard: Universal Teacher
Accreditation in NSW
Gaining, maintaining, reaching higher…
Mercurius Goldstein, ATA – [BOSTES]
Carmelina Fede
18 March 2016
Modern Language Teachers’ Association of NSW
Overview
• Introduction, professional & industrial
background (15 min)
• Maintenance of accreditation (20 min)
• Seeking higher levels: Accomplished, Lead (30 min)
• Hands on: Portfolios, Q&A (25 min)
Mercurius Goldstein, MLTA Conference, 2016
An accreditation journey
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First encounter – 2006 (Undergrad)
Provisional/Conditional (2007)
Proficient (2010) / Maintenance
Highly Accomplished (2012)
Initial Teacher Education Acc. Panel (2013)
BOSTES External Assessor for Proficient
Teacher Accreditation (2015)
Mercurius Goldstein, MLTA Conference, 2016
All aboard!
• No more ‘old scheme’ / ‘new scheme’
• More than 50% of currently serving teachers
now part of the Accreditation system
• All WWCC required this year for Secondary
teachers, next year for Primary
• All pre-2004 teachers deemed ‘Proficient’ by
31 December 2017
• First maintenance periods begins 1 Jan 2018
for all pre-2004 teachers
Mercurius Goldstein, MLTA Conference, 2016
Professional standards
What’s it all for?
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Raising the ceiling, raising the floor
NOT ‘just anyone’ can be a teacher…
Rights of students to quality education
Salaries, conditions for teachers…
Professional college – e.g. law, medicine
Co-designed with industrial representatives
NOT ‘more hoops’ / Part of professional and
career development
Mercurius Goldstein, MLTA Conference, 2016
So remember…
Mercurius Goldstein, MLTA Conference, 2016
Maintaining Accreditation
Carmelina Fede
Reaching higher: Is it worth it?
Why (and why not) to seek
‘Accomplished’ or ‘Lead’ accreditation:
A closer look at standards…
• Look at the first verb or verb cluster in each
Descriptor (Activity: concordance of verbs in each Element, 2-3 min)
• Knowing (Graduate), Doing (Proficient),
Sharing (Accomplished), Teaching (Lead)
• Other trends you notice
(Activity: Linguistic analysis, 5 min max.)
Mercurius Goldstein, MLTA Conference, 2016
A closer look at standards…
• Look at the first verb or verb cluster in each
Descriptor (Activity: concordance of verbs in each Element, 2-3 min)
• Knowing (Graduate), Doing (Proficient),
Sharing (Accomplished), Teaching (Lead)
• Other trends you notice
(Activity: Linguistic analysis, 5 min max.)
Mercurius Goldstein, MLTA Conference, 2016
What to expect
• Set aside 2 calendar years (Master’s degree
equivalent)
• Gruelling & meticulous process
• Complex, holistic self-appraisal (stronger
sense of your professional direction)
• Earn it (won’t be handed to you)
• Support from your supervisor, colleagues
• More complex ongoing maintenance cycle
Mercurius Goldstein, MLTA Conference, 2016
Industrial perspective
• Provide a non-promotion pathway for expert
practitioners in the classroom
• Affirm our (collective) professional status
• Affirm NSW as the state with highest
benchmarks for teaching & learning
• Underwrite claims to professional levels of
remuneration, working conditions
• Band 3 – 30% above a.w.e. and in top quintile
of Aust. earnings (professional level)
Mercurius Goldstein, MLTA Conference, 2016
Good reasons to do it
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Structured reflection on practice
Prove something to yourself
Strengthening your network
Confirmation of your status as an expert
practitioner (shouldn’t be a surprise)
• Something ‘up your sleeve’
Mercurius Goldstein, MLTA Conference, 2016
Bad reasons to do it
• Promotion (in the traditional sense)
• Money (if that’s your only reason)
• Prove something to anyone else
Mercurius Goldstein, MLTA Conference, 2016
Bear in mind…
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There is no ‘quota’, but…
Higher levels are “not for everyone”, by definition
Wait until you know you are ready in all areas
How much do you like weekends, evenings?
Stage of your career (and life-stage) when it will
be of most benefit to you
• Maintenance of accreditation at higher levels
• The goal-posts will move…
Mercurius Goldstein, MLTA Conference, 2016
Hands on
Your portfolio, and Q&A…
Three evidence types
1. Documentary (Follow the language of the Descriptors)
2. Reference (Referees must be known to BOSTES.)
3. Observation (Identify descriptors, brief observer, arrange well in
advance)
• Refer to the Evidence Guide (It’s not a prescription)
• Aim for a balance, triangulate (one piece of evidence from
two domains is more compelling than five pieces from one domain.)
Mercurius Goldstein, MLTA Conference, 2016
Walkthrough
• BOSTES Teacher Accreditation website 
Apply for Highly Accomplished 
‘Develop your application’
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http://www.nswteachers.nsw.edu.au/current-teachers/apply-for-highlyaccomplished-teacher-accreditation/develop-your-application/
Downloadable Evidence Guide, HA Assessment Rubric, Advice for Referees
• Online Application System
Mercurius Goldstein, MLTA Conference, 2016
Let’s talk!
Mercurius Goldstein
M.Ed. (Research), B.Ed. (Hons I), Dip.Gov.
ATA – [BOSTES]
[email protected]
Languages Teacher
Glen Innes High School
Mercurius Goldstein, MLTA Conference, 2016