When Score Release Day Doesn’t Bring Fireworks

Hey friends...Imagine this.

Score release day arrives.
You’ve spent countless hours on your portfolios.
Months perfecting every detail.
You grew. You demonstrated impact.
You poured everything you had into this process…

…and still fell just a few points short of seeing fireworks on the screen — of seeing those three letters, NBCT, beside your name.

If this is you, here’s what’s likely to happen next inside your head.

First, Sadness Arrives

She’ll show up right on time.
And she’s right — this is going to hurt.

You wanted this badly. You invested your time, your energy, your heart into it. Feeling sad is human. It’s valid.

Then, Anger Will Knock

Those scores? They don’t fully capture who you are or what you do in your classroom.
And you’re right — they don’t.

That frustration is real, and it makes sense.

Next Comes Fear

Can I do this? Am I good enough? Why did I even try? Maybe this isn’t for me…

But hear me clearly:
Fear is lying to you.
She’s the least trustworthy emotion in the room on score release day.

Disgust Joins the Party

You’ll read feedback like:

“Component 3 needed clearer evidence.”
“I didn’t see evidence of your goals.”
“You need to show me this…”
“This analysis was too descriptive.”

It’s annoying. It stings.
But it’s also guiding you.

This feedback is your roadmap.
Even if it feels too broad or not detailed enough, it is showing you where the assessor needed more clarity and depth.

And Finally… Joy

Yes, she will show up.
She’ll be waiting patiently behind the harder emotions.

Joy is the one who reminds you:

You now know exactly what to strengthen.
You’re not starting over — you’re refining.
And refining is what accomplished teachers do.

Does missing by a few points mean you’re not accomplished?

No. Absolutely Not!
You are more than a score on a paper.

This Happens to Your Students Too

Think about them.

All year long, you pour into them, teach them, support them — and sometimes they still miss the mark on a test by a couple of points.

Does that mean they aren’t ready for the next grade?
No. It simply means that on that test, on that day, they didn’t provide the specific evidence needed.

You are no different.
A score is not your identity — it’s data.
It’s direction.
It’s soil that just grew richer.

Now You Have an Advantage

If you didn’t see fireworks this year, guess what?

You now have deeper insight into:

The type of evidence assessors look for
What clear, analytical writing looks like
How to move from description to true interpretation
What adjustments matter most

You’re not guessing anymore.
You have clarity — and clarity is momentum.

So Don’t Silence the Hard Emotions

If you log into your NB portal and don’t see the celebration you hoped for:

Welcome the emotions.
All of them.

Sadness, anger, fear, disgust — and yes, joy.
They each have something to teach you.

Together, they’re shaping you into the teacher you are becoming — the teacher who will have NBCT behind your name.

Next Season Will Be Incredible

Because here’s the truth:

You are already an NBCT in practice.
The paper just hasn’t caught up yet.

You're more refined now.
You're more prepared.
You know what to adjust.
And you are absolutely capable of lighting up the sky with fireworks next season.

So whether you open your results and celebrate certification or celebrate your continuance…

I’m cheering for you.
I’m celebrating you.
I’m proud of you.

Score release day is coming — and I can’t wait to hear how you did, support you, and cheer for your next steps.

Love you, friends.
Until next time.