The Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) consists of twelve-members appointed by the Governor, the majority of whom are practicing educators. PESB is responsible for policy and oversight of Washington’s system of educator preparation, certification, continuing education, and assignment (RCW). PESB works to advance educator workforce development and are responsive to educator shortage, continuing education and increasing the diversity of the workforce.
Purpose and roles:
To establish policies and requirements for the preparation and certification of education professionals, ensuring that they:
- Are competent in the professional knowledge and practice for which they are certified.
- Have a foundation of skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to help students with diverse needs, abilities, cultural experiences, and learning styles meet or exceed the state learning goals.
- Are committed to research-based practice and career-long professional development.
PESB also serves as an advisory body to the Superintendent of Public Instruction on issues related to educator recruitment, hiring, mentoring and support, professional growth, retention, evaluation, and revocation and suspension of licensure .
PESB fulfills several roles in Washington’s educational system:
- Policymaker: regulatory policy-making and oversight of Washington’s system of educator preparation, certification, continuing education and assignment.
- Program implementer: operation of legislatively-mandated programs.
- Advocate: advocacy for mission-related policy, programs, and resources for students and educators.
- Advisor: strategic advice and guidance to the Governor, the Legislature, and the Superintendent of Public Instruction on issues affecting certified educators.
Message from the Chair
“Parents in Washington will tell you that the most important work in the state is educating their children. Business leaders will tell you that students must be better prepared to take their place in a competitive workforce. Students will tell you they are more likely to be engaged in their learning if their teacher knows the subject area well and brings it alive in the classroom.
We agree. As members of the Professional Educator Standards Board, there are statements about the reform of education and the significance of the profession that we can make with certainty and assurance. Teaching matters. Leadership counts. Setting clear and high standards will help all children achieve at higher levels, but it is skilled educators who make it happen. We continue to affirm this as the result of research and discovery, discussion and deliberation.
PESB is responsible for setting and upholding high standards for the profession, ensuring that students encounter high-quality educators throughout their school experience. This deliberative body fulfills the state’s intent for the profession to be self-governing, with a composition primarily of practicing educators and administrators joined by representatives from educator preparation programs, parents and citizens.”
– Luke Thomas
National Board Certified Teacher, Social Studies and Spanish, Mead School District
Become a Board member
- If you’d like more information on whether serving on the Board is for you, please view this presentation (Presentation) and/or contact Alexandra Manuel, PESB Executive Director, at (360)725-6276.
- If you are ready to apply to serve on the PESB, please complete the application found on the Governor’s Boards and Commissions website.
