Huntsville reaches $1 million goal supporting growth in board certified teachers

Business and education leaders in Huntsville, Alabama, have announced that the community has reached a $1 million fundraising milestone to support 500 new National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) across Huntsville City, Madison City, and Madison County Schools. This achievement is part of the Raise Your Hand initiative, a five-year effort led by the Huntsville Committee of 100 in partnership with The Schools Foundation and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

The initiative aims to strengthen public education and enhance the region’s long-term economic competitiveness by increasing the number of NBCTs. Since its launch in 2021, the number of certified teachers in the area has grown from 156 in 2020 to 254 in 2024. Currently, another 178 educators are pursuing certification. With these efforts, Huntsville/Madison County is positioned to have the highest concentration of NBCTs among comparable metropolitan areas nationwide.

John Allen, CEO of the Huntsville Committee of 100, said: “This achievement reflects what makes Huntsville unique: business leaders, educators, and community partners uniting behind a shared vision for the future of public education. Through sustained collaboration and persistence, we’re showing how local leadership can drive real progress. By investing in our teachers, we’re investing in the future workforce that will keep Huntsville and Madison County growing for generations to come.”

Jeanne Greer, Executive Director of The Schools Foundation, commented: “This milestone shows what can happen when a community stands behind its teachers. As a lifelong educator, I’ve seen firsthand how National Board Certified Teachers elevate entire classrooms, supporting peers, inspiring students, and driving excellence across our schools. Raise Your Hand is changing what’s possible for public education in Huntsville/Madison County, one teacher at a time.”

Peggy Brookins, NBCT President & CEO of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards stated: “Every community wants to offer the best environment for their children and families, but few put real action and investment behind that desire. The Raise Your Hand initiative has done exactly that.” She added: “We are deeply grateful for this extraordinary commitment to Alabama’s educators and students. By exceeding the goal to raise one million dollars to support teachers pursuing National Board Certification, the initiative is investing directly in teaching excellence and student success. The return on this investment will continue for decades as students benefit from having Board Certified teachers in their classrooms. When students learn more, communities thrive. Teachers need both encouragement and resources to begin and complete this transformative process, and this kind of philanthropic leadership makes that possible. Partnerships like this exemplify how communities can work together to strengthen the teaching profession and ensure every student has access to the high-quality education they deserve.”

National Board Certification is recognized as one of teaching’s most respected credentials; it requires candidates to show advanced knowledge and positive impact on student learning through a rigorous multi-year process. Research indicates that students taught by NBCTs gain up to two additional months of learning each year compared with peers.

A celebration event marking this milestone will be held at Campus 805 in Huntsville on November 6 with remarks from Dr. Eric Mackey (Alabama State Superintendent), John Allen (CEO of C100), Jeanne Greer (Executive Director of TSF), and Peggy Brookins (President & CEO of NBPTS).

The Huntsville Committee of 100 is composed of over 350 CEOs committed to economic development and educational excellence in North Alabama through advocacy efforts such as their Creative Cities Fund philanthropic arm.

The Schools Foundation acts as an advocate for public education within Madison County by collaborating with parents, businesses, educators, state leaders—and providing professional development opportunities while promoting cross-district initiatives.

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards maintains rigorous standards for accomplished teaching practice nationally; it offers voluntary certification programs aiming at advancing American educational outcomes through teacher quality.