Ira Jones Middle School Principal Dr. Ed Boswell be one of 600 principals nationwide to help pilot the new National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification for principals.

The national professional certification program seeks to recognize superb principals and help them improve their skills.

 The program closely follows a similar program for teachers, which is considered the highest professional recognition program in the nation.

The principals will help validate the NBPTS standards by undergoing the certification process themselves.

NBPTS, which is voluntary, takes anywhere from one to three years to achieve. Participants have to demonstrate advance, in-depth teaching knowledge, practices and skills.

Boswell, who heard about the program from Ira Jones teacher and NBPTS certificate-holder Chris Klein, said he expects his cerfication process to take about two years.