HUNTSVILLE — The North Alabama area is about to set an education benchmark, thanks to a major push by Huntsville business leaders.
“Raise Your Hand” if you’re excited.
According to a news release, the Huntsville Committee of 100, in partnership with The Schools Foundation and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, announced today that the region has raised $1 million to support 500 National Board Certified Teachers across Huntsville City, Madison City, and Madison County schools.
“This achievement reflects what makes Huntsville unique: business leaders, educators, and community partners uniting behind a shared vision for the future of public education,” said John Allen, CEO of the Huntsville Committee of 100. “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.”
The project places the community on track to have the highest concentration of NBCTs in the nation of comparable MSAs, the news release said.
The milestone represents a five-year, business-led effort to invest in public education and strengthen the region’s long-term economic competitiveness.
The initiative, called Raise Your Hand, brings together business leaders, educators, and philanthropic partners to elevate teaching quality, improve student outcomes, and retain top talent in Huntsville and Madison County classrooms.
“This milestone shows what can happen when a community stands behind its teachers,” said Jeanne Greer, executive director of The Schools Foundation. “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 our region, one teacher at a time.”
Raise Your Hand was launched in 2021 to make the Huntsville/Madison County MSA a national leader in teacher excellence. Since then, the number of National Board Certified Teachers in the region has increased from 156 in 2020 to 254 in 2024, with an additional 178 educators currently pursuing certification.
“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,” said Peggy Brookins, NBCT, president & CEO of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. “We are deeply grateful for this extraordinary commitment to Alabama’s educators and students. By exceeding the goal to raise $1 million to support teachers pursuing National Board Certification, the initiative is investing directly in teaching excellence and student success.”
National Board Certification is the teaching profession’s most respected credential, a rigorous, multi-year process that requires educators to demonstrate advanced knowledge, instructional skill, and measurable impact on student learning. Research shows that students of NBCTs gain one to two additional months of learning each year, particularly among high-need populations.
“The return on this investment will continue for decades as students benefit from having Board Certified teachers in their classrooms,” Brookins said. “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.”
A celebration for the Raise Your Hand milestone is set for Nov. 6 from 4:30–6 p.m. at Campus 805 in Huntsville.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe to our email newsletter to have all our smart stories delivered to your inbox.
