Help Me Get Board Certified
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My name is Gabe Tafoya. I am an orchestra teacher at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I am incredibly passionate about music and about working with my students. Last school year I received funding through my school district to pursue my national board certification, but I missed passing the certification by 1 point. I have to retake one component of the certification portfolio, but I have to pay out-of-pocket in order to do so. The cost of this component is $525, but I had some unexpected medical expenses come up at the end of 2019 and I really don’t have the money to pay for my board certification retake. I want to become a national board certified teacher because it equates to the highest level of certification that a teacher can attain. I want to be the best possible teacher for my students, and I want to continue to learn through the process of becoming a national board certified teacher.
Santa Fe High is a public high school and I am proud to teach there, because I believe in public education, and I believe that all students deserve the opportunity to learn music at a high level. Music is an incredible tool for expression, making lifelong friends, and can be a very profitable and rewarding career or hobby. I also believe that these students have the right to learn from the very best, and I believe that receiving my board certification would further my pursuit to be one of the best music teachers to enrich the overall learning experience for my students.
When I took over the orchestra program at Santa Fe High School, there were a total of 30 students across 3 classes that were not ability-based. The program had 1 performing orchestra and had received low to mediocre scores at formal competitions. Under my direction, the program has grown to numbers over 50 and now has 4 separate performing orchestras that are entirely ability-based, from a group of absolute beginners to a group of highly talented, All-State level players in an elite chamber orchestra.
Two of these ensembles received superior ratings at formal contest last year including the top orchestra receiving the highest overall score of all performing ensembles at the event. The top orchestra also took third place at a national contest in San Diego last year.
The program continues to grow, and I continue to grow as a musician and as an educator along with it. I have already learned so much about myself and my teaching through the National Board Certification process, and I know that receiving my certification will allow me to reflect on my own teaching and become an even better teacher for these students.
Santa Fe High is a public high school and I am proud to teach there, because I believe in public education, and I believe that all students deserve the opportunity to learn music at a high level. Music is an incredible tool for expression, making lifelong friends, and can be a very profitable and rewarding career or hobby. I also believe that these students have the right to learn from the very best, and I believe that receiving my board certification would further my pursuit to be one of the best music teachers to enrich the overall learning experience for my students.
When I took over the orchestra program at Santa Fe High School, there were a total of 30 students across 3 classes that were not ability-based. The program had 1 performing orchestra and had received low to mediocre scores at formal competitions. Under my direction, the program has grown to numbers over 50 and now has 4 separate performing orchestras that are entirely ability-based, from a group of absolute beginners to a group of highly talented, All-State level players in an elite chamber orchestra.
Two of these ensembles received superior ratings at formal contest last year including the top orchestra receiving the highest overall score of all performing ensembles at the event. The top orchestra also took third place at a national contest in San Diego last year.
The program continues to grow, and I continue to grow as a musician and as an educator along with it. I have already learned so much about myself and my teaching through the National Board Certification process, and I know that receiving my certification will allow me to reflect on my own teaching and become an even better teacher for these students.
Organizer
Gabe Tafoya
Organizer
Santa Fe, NM