Welcome to Creative Cities Fund

Will You Raise Your Hand?

Raise Your Hand is a bold initiative to add 500 new National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) to Huntsville City, Madison City and Madison County school systems.

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Raise Your Hand

What is Raise Your Hand?

Raise Your Hand is a bold initiative to add 500 new National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) to Huntsville City, Madison City and Madison County school systems.

National Board Certification is the most respected professional certification available in K-12 education. Research shows that NBCTs increase student achievement, improve classroom management, and produce a higher return on investment for their schools and community.

We’re a smart community. North Alabama has one of the highest concentrations of engineers and STEM professionals in the country. We should have the highest concentration of NBCTs in Alabama and among our peer cities nationwide. This initiative is a partnership of the Creative Cities Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Huntsville Committee of 100 and The Schools Foundation.

This is no quick fix. It’s a big challenge. It’s hard work. But your investment will create generational change in North Alabama as we empower teachers, improve classrooms and inspire students.

Our economy, workforce development and our future all depend on it.

Raise Your Hand

Quick Hit Facts

01.

Smarter Earlier

Kindergarten students taught by NBCTs are 37% more likely to be reading at the end of the school year and are 31% more likely to reach grade-level standards.

02.

Community-Wide ROI

Research shows that for every $1 invested in NBCTs, the community saves $31 on remedial education that isn’t needed when students meet learning standards.

03.

Faster Gains

Students taught by NBCTs demonstrate an increase in learning of 1-2 months per year. Gains increase even more among disadvantaged students.

04.

Instructional Leadership

NBCTs increase their colleagues’ morale and retention by mentoring them and offering leadership within schools.

05.

Enhanced Learning

Students taught by NBCTs gain an extra grade level of instruction over the course of K-12 instruction.

06.

Higher Earnings

NBCTs increase the present value of student lifetime income by $48,000.

07.

Economic Boost

NBCTs earn an annual pay supplement of $5,000 per year. NBCTs who teach in certain subject areas and in one of Alabama’s 351 eligible schools can earn up to an additional $5,000 each year. This stipend increases teacher retention and injects up to $3.5M into our local economy.