This videotape describes the impact of National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification within North Carolina's Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. It begins with the story of an at-risk student who attributes his success to having had an NBPTS certified teacher in 5th grade. The teacher tutored him, paired him with a mentor, and put him in a program for at-risk students. He moved on to middle school and has succeeded academically. The teacher believes that the certification made her more reflective and aware of all students' needs. NBPTS certification is voluntary. Teachers learn from others who are already certified. In 1998, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools partnered with two universities to form a collaborative to improve education. They integrated NBPTS standards, strategized on improving K-12 education, and encouraged teachers to become certified. Charlotte-Mecklenburg has the second highest percentage of NBPTS certified teachers in the nation. At the end of 2001, 77 percent of its schools had met or exceeded state goals for improvement. The NBPTS certification process takes 1 year, but teachers believe it is worth the effort, because it makes them better educators. Certified teachers tend to become leaders, get treated with more respect, and have higher morale. (SM)