four new letters for my name: NBCT

My buddy (and NBCT) the TRP was right: I just had to hang tough, wait until the crush was done, and check my scores, which I did, trembling a little, at 7:05 this morning.

I passed. I am a National Board Certified Teacher.

Thanks to the TRP for encouraging me to try and for telling me (in generic, ethically sound terms) about what to expect. Thanks to my family for putting up with my stress, especially during the holidays. Thanks to Mike Deakins (who also passed) for offering great criticism and support. Thanks to fellow staff and administrators for always asking when my scores were coming, and never letting me forget that Doomsday was approaching.

Thanks, most of all, to my wife Melissa, who told me time and again, "I know you'll pass," and who helped me organize and mail my award-winning portfolio the day before it was due, and who told me this morning, "I knew you'd pass," because she knew what I refused, for safety's sake, to acknowledge.

Now, back to work.