Joseph Aguerrebere is president and chief executive officer of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards® (NBPTS) in Arlington, Virginia. NBPTS is an independent, nonprofit organization that advances the quality of teaching and learning by establishing a rigorous national system for certifying teachers who meet high standards of accomplished teaching. Since his arrival in 2003, the number of National Board–certified teachers has increased by 58,000, and the certification process is now recognized as the gold standard for quality teaching. These educators work in all states and often assume leadership positions. NBPTS has expanded to develop products and services that serve educators and schools at all stages of their development, from new teachers through the principalship.

Dr. Aguerrebere was born and raised in East Los Angeles. After graduating from Garfield High School—subject of the movie, Stand and Deliver—he attended the University of Southern California where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science, and master’s and doctorate degrees in educational administration.

His education career includes serving as a teacher and administrator in elementary, middle, and high school settings in California. He later served as a professor of educational administration at California State University, Dominguez Hills in Los Angeles where he prepared educators to work successfully in urban settings. Prior to joining NBPTS, Dr. Aguerrebere was deputy director at the Ford Foundation in New York where he supported national and international initiatives to improve education.

Dr. Aguerrebere is recognized as a national expert on school reform, serves on numerous boards, and is an advisor to education organizations, journalists, and government.