Troops to Teachers
Abstract
The proposed Virginia Troops to Teachers (TTT) Center will utilize Virginia TTT data collected in 2013, national reports, and current veteran interviews to develop an innovative program to attract and increase the number of veterans participating in Troops to Teachers and entering the teaching profession. The one-year project will include: 1) a statewide initiative to evaluate and strengthen outreach efforts and create a network of collaboration with two and four-year colleges, technical programs, military commands and veteran programs, including development of an interactive website and social media support; and 2) a regional pilot program involving a comprehensive three-tiered program of TTT support, including job shadowing and virtual meeting spaces, for assisting veterans as they transition to the teaching profession. The statewide Virginia Department of Education program, in partnership with the College of William & Mary, will be launched to attract both veterans and troops who will be leaving the military within a one-year period. TTT project specialists and a military veteran career coach will develop and deliver seminars, workshops, and online support. Content will include benefits of teaching in high-need geographical areas and specialization in shortage areas of teaching. The regional pilot program will focus on the military population concentrated in Virginia’s Region 2 (Tidewater area of Hampton Roads to the Ft. Lee/Petersburg area). The cornerstone of the regional program will be the development and implementation of individualized career coaching programs made available through a three-tiered system of support. Tier 1 support will include career coaching, credential review, and development of an individualized plan for meeting licensure requirements. Potential TTT participants will be encouraged to participate in a Virginia TTT Job Shadowing Program which will provide candidates with a view of life as a teacher, including exploration of content areas, grade levels, and cultural settings. Tier 2 will focus on personalized support by matching the TTT participant with a teacher coach from a pool of trained teachers. In addition, participants will be encouraged to participate in a “Virtual Coffee House” designed to create a continuum of convenient, synchronous and asynchronous learning opportunities. Tier 3 will provide continued access to TTT resources as part of the Virginia TTT Family. Coaching and mentoring during this phase of support will focus on identifying professional growth needs, providing individualized content, pedagogical and behavioral support, and encouraging experienced TTT graduates to assume leadership roles in the program. The Virginia Troops to Teachers Center will be developed and launched by a team which includes an educational psychologist and career counselor, a nationally board certified mathematics specialist experienced in coordinating job-embedded teacher professional development, a veteran science teacher and administrator, a business manager with concentration in social media and web support, and a military veteran who will support the statewide and pilot programs. The Virginia TTT Center will be located at William & Mary, strategically placed between the heavily populated military areas of northern Virginia and the Hampton Roads/Tidewater region.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 20, 2017
- Source ID
- N002441710027
Entities
People
- Gail Hardinge
Organizations
- United States Navy