Educator Resources

Standards Board Applicant Registry and Member Selection Process

Standards Board Applicant Registry and Member Selection Process
The following is a description of the process by which individuals may apply and are selected for membership on the State Professional Standards and Practices Board for Teaching.

Step 1: Applications are Submitted
Step 2: Receipt of Applications is Confirmed
Step 3: Pool of Candidates is Established
Step 4: Applications are Reviewed
Step 5: Finalists are Interviewed
Step 6: Nominees are Selected
Step 7: New Members are Appointed

Step 1: Applications are Submitted

  • Individuals interested in membership on the State Professional Standards and Practices Board for Teaching may submit an application for membership at any time. Complete applications include the Application for Appointment PDF file (56 KB), personal statement, resume (optional), and one or more letters of recommendation. Applications may be mailed, faxed, or e-mailed to the Office of Teaching Initiatives as indicated on the application.

    An individual may withdraw his/her name from the Registry at any time by notifying the Office of Teaching Initiatives.

  • An individual who applied for membership prior to 2005 may have his/her name added to the Registry by notifying the Office of Teaching Initiatives, thus becoming eligible for future vacancies. An applicant may wish to supplement his/her previous application with updated information, but this is optional. Note: former applicants will not automatically be added to the Registry.

Step 2: Receipt of Applications is Confirmed

  • When an application is received, an e-mail is sent to the applicant confirming receipt of the application and notifying him/her of any additional information needed to complete the application. Note: The Registry process relies upon e-mail communication. If an applicant does not have access to e-mail, he/she must contact the Office of Teaching Initiatives to make other arrangements.

Step 3: Applications are Reviewed

  • Upon receipt, each application is reviewed by Education Department staff. Applications are rated on a scale from 1-5 on each of the following criteria:

    1. Candidate's background and experience are appropriate and relevant to the issues addressed by the Board, appropriate to his/her category of candidacy.

    2. Candidate's background and experience show active support of high standards/ excellence in teaching, appropriate to his/her category of candidacy.

    3. Candidate has distinguished himself/herself in one or more aspects of teaching, teacher preparation, advocacy, etc., appropriate to his/her category of candidacy.

    4. Candidate's personal statement reflects an understanding of Regents policy, a commitment to improving teaching and a thoughtful assessment of his/her potential contribution as a member of the Board.

Step 4: Pool of Candidates is Established

  • When a vacancy occurs on the Board, a list is established of all applicants in the Registry who qualify for membership in the category of the vacancy (teacher, school administrator, higher education, public, or teacher education student).

  • The assistant commissioner and secretary to the Board review the applications and select a pool of finalists from among the top-ranked applications. The pool of finalists may also include other applicants who represent geographic, subject specialty, racial/ethnic, or other categories of diversity needed on the Board.

Step 5: Finalists are Interviewed

  • Telephone and/or face-to-face interviews are conducted with each finalist by an interview committee, which typically consists of the assistant commissioner and secretary to the Board, and also may include an additional Education Department staff member. Each interviewer rates the applicant on his/her responses to a series of questions during the roughly half-hour interview. The questions are designed to determine the individual's knowledge of and personal views on teaching issues in New York State, as well as his/her availability and willingness to commit to the work of the Board.

  • Following the interviews, the interview committee discusses each candidate's strengths and weaknesses and each interviewer indicates whether the candidate should be considered for appointment.

Step 6: Nominees are Selected

  • The assistant commissioner selects the final nominee for each vacancy and submits the name to the associate commissioner, senior deputy commissioner, commissioner, and finally to the Board of Regents for consideration. All finalists are notified by telephone of the outcome and those not selected are invited to keep their applications active in the Registry for consideration for future vacancies.

Step 7: New Members are Appointed

  • The Regents Committee on Higher Education appoints the new members.

  • Upon appointment, each appointee receives a letter of appointment from the Commissioner of Education. New members begin their service at the next regular meeting of the Standards Board.
Last Updated: February 4, 2010